For Teacher Appreciation Week 2021, let's celebrate your stories! Over the last year, you and your colleagues have supported your schools, students, and communities in innumerable ways.   We'd love to hear about it and to hear about the teachers who shaped you!

Highlight your story by entering our "Teachers Shape the Future" video contest for a chance to win $500. We pay $50 for all videos that we select to share. 

How to participate

Create a one-minute “selfie video” telling us how teachers shape the future. You can:

• Tell us how a teacher shaped your future.
• Or, think about the past, present, and future. How did you come to teaching? What is teaching like for your now? And what future are you working to create?
• Don't forget to tell us your name and where you teach.

*Submit this form AND send your video to info@teach.org with the subject “Teacher Appreciation Week video contest.” 

Not sure how to make a selfie video? We made a 101 video for you!

Compensation

We will select a winner based on the content rules below. Regardless of whether you win the contest, if we share your video, we'll pay you. $50.

How we’ll use your contribution

If we select your story, we will publish it on our web platform and celebrate it on social media. We may share your story on our website, on our social media channels, in email or in other digital outreach. We have campaigns and opportunities for teacher appreciation all year long. If we think your story is a fit for another campaign, we’ll let you know!

Full Contest Rules

Who is eligible?

• All current K-12 teachers in the U.S. 

How do I enter the contest?

• Submit your 1-minute video to info@teach.org by May 17, 2021
• Use the subject line “Teacher Appreciation Week video contest”
• Answer the prompt in your video

How will you select a winner?
We’ve put together a panel of five TEACH employees to review all eligible videos and select a winner based on these criteria:

• The video answers the prompt about how teachers shape the future.
• The video quality works for social media and web. Specifically, make sure you are well lit and we can hear you clearly in the video. Avoid distracting backgrounds or noisy environments (unless that’s a crucial part of the video!). Keep your camera steady and use the highest quality your camera or phone allows.
• Creativity counts! Our panel will choose the videos that illustrate the creativity of teaching!
• If there’s a tie in the scoring, we’ll select the winner by random drawing.

What are my odds of winning?

• That depends on how many people submit their videos. You should definitely go for it. Even if you don’t win the contest, you'll receive $50 if we use your video on social.

We’ll announce the winner on May 21st on our social channels. Stay tuned!

* Update for School Closures *

Educators are the most innovative, creative and hardworking people we know! With schools closed to slow the spread of coronavirus, how have you rearranged curriculum and projects for at-home learning? We'd love to hear about it! 

About the Campaign

Changing lives isn’t easy, but it’s critical work. Join forces with TEACH Connecticut to share your teaching victories and spread the message—teaching is a profession that shapes lives and communities. 

The Better Work Stories campaign promotes real stories about real teachers making an impact in the classroom. We're collecting videos and stories by Connecticut teachers that highlight the impact of educators.

When We'll Publish Your Story

We’ll feature these stories on our social channels, site or our Better Work Stories page. 

How to Submit

• Grab any device with a camera.
• Record a short video telling about your best teaching win! (It's easy! Here's some advice.)
• Prefer to write it? Jot down your story in 100 words or less and include a photo of yourself.
• Post your video or written story on social and tag @TEACHConnecticut using the #bwsCT hashtag.
• Or email it to us at ct@teach.org.
• Need inspiration? Check out these Better Work Stories.