The U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations for its second annual American Stars of Teaching project, which recognizes outstanding teachers who are using innovative strategies to raise student achievement, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today.

"American Star teachers represent our nation's many fine educators who use innovative strategies to close the education gap and change the course of their students' lives," Spellings said.

Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2005 American Stars in Teaching. One teacher, or team of teachers from a school, will be recognized in every state and the District of Columbia. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators or others can nominate a teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching.

U.S. Department of Education officials will again visit the schools of American Star teachers to congratulate them on their success. The American Stars of Teaching project is part of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which offers teacher and principal roundtables, teacher workshops and conferences, regular e-mail updates, and a free online professional development tool. Nomination forms for American Stars of Teaching and information on the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative are available at www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative.

"Every day in thousands of classrooms, teachers work tirelessly to help build a better future for their students. And they succeed because they believe—as do I and does President Bush—that every child, regardless of circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn," Spellings said.

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