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Wilburn Elementary Earns TAP Ambassador Award

March 24, 2010 - Wilburn Elementary was one of four schools in the nation to be honored with the TAP Ambassador Award on March 20 at the 10th National TAP Conference: Leading Innovation through Teacher Effectiveness held in Washington, D.C.
Carnes Receives Award
Principal Jennifer Carnes accepts the TAP Ambassador Award from NIET President Gary Stark (left) and TAP Founder and NIET Chairman Lowell Milken (right). Photo provided by Milken Family Foundation

The TAP Ambassador Award honors schools that have gone beyond their campuses to represent the principles of the TAP system and have assisted others in their states and regions. The honor comes with a financial prize of $5,000.

Wilburn Elementary Principal Jennifer Carnes was presented the award before the audience of 1,000 educators from across the nation attending the conference. Wilburn is in its second year as a TAP school and is the only TAP school in North Carolina.

The letter included with our check states: "On behalf of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) we are pleased to present Wilburn Elementary School with the TAP Ambassador Award.  This honor recognizes Wilburn's outstanding contributions to the development of TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement, both at the school level and as a resource to educators and policymakers evaluating TAP's potential implementation and expansion."

The Ambassador Award was one of three surprise TAP Recognition Awards presented this year to honor schools and organizations for their dedication and commitment to TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement.

TAP is one of America's leading comprehensive school reforms, providing educators with powerful opportunities of multiple career paths, ongoing applied professional growth, instructionally focused accountability and performance-based compensation. The successful implementation of the elements together maximizes TAP's impact in improving teacher effectiveness and achievement growth for all students.

Launched in 1999, TAP is operated by the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a non-profit public charity. TAP impacts more than 7,500 teachers and 85,000 students across America.

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