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A.(1)  Beginning with the 1986-1987 school year and annually thereafter, the superintendent of each city, parish, or other local public school system shall select one teacher from the elementary schools in the system, one teacher from the middle or junior high schools in the system, and one teacher from the high schools in the system to receive the outstanding elementary, outstanding middle or junior high school, and outstanding high school teacher of the year award.

(2)  The selection of these three outstanding teachers shall be based upon minimum criteria established by the state Department of Education with the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and shall include the establishment of objective procedures to consider the following factors:

(a)  Teaching skill and dedication.

(b)  Plans to continue active teaching status.

(c)  Respect of and rapport with students.

(d)  Respect of and rapport with parents.

(e)  Respect of and rapport with coworkers.

(f)  Community leadership.

(g)  Contributions to school groups and activities.

(h)  Affiliations with educational organizations.

(i)  Student achievement.

(3)  The department with the approval of the board shall establish procedures to include teachers from special schools in the selection process.

B.  Nominations for the teacher of the year awards shall be submitted by each school principal to the city, parish, or other local public school system superintendent and shall be made by teachers or teacher groups through use of procedures established by the local system for this purpose.  The final selection process shall include a formal mechanism to obtain teacher, parental, and community recommendations and opinions.

C.  Each such superintendent shall report to the state Department of Education on the three selections made from the respective school system for outstanding teacher of the year.

D.  Award recipients shall be suitably recognized by award by the local superintendent of an appropriate plaque or certificate of merit at a reception or other honorary meeting or ceremony.  The recipients may also be presented a monetary award by the local superintendent in an amount approved by the local school board.  Such monetary award shall not be a violation of La. Rev. Stat. 42:1111 or any other provision of the Code of Governmental Ethics.  The state Department of Education shall provide for recognition of award recipients by the state superintendent of education.

E.  Any city, parish, or other local public school board shall have authority to grant other merit awards to employees to encourage and reward outstanding performance and unusual and meritorious accomplishments, including suggestions which promote economy and efficiency in the organization and management of the school system.  Prior to the granting of any such award, a school board shall formulate, adopt, and maintain a written policy setting forth the minimum criteria and objective procedures for determining an award recipient.  An award recipient shall be suitably recognized by presentation by the local superintendent of an appropriate plaque, certificate of merit, or cash award at a reception or other honorary meeting or ceremony.  Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to provide for merit pay.

Acts 1985, No. 115, §1; Acts 1986, No. 134, §1, eff. June 26, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 308, §1, eff. June 30, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 305, §1; Acts 1995, No. 289, §1; Acts 2003, No. 297, §1.