Educational Award
Monday, 04 October 2010 13:49
STATUTES
The President of the Republic’s Educational Award can be presented to people connected with the field of education at all levels of study, who have achieved outstanding results as teachers, faculty members, directors of educational institutions, compilers of textbooks and methodological materials, by initiating and implementing practical innovations in the field of education, or developing educational policy as an education official.
Nominations can be submitted by the people who correspond to the aforementioned requirements themselves, or by their employers, educational institutions, as well as associations dealing with the field of education. Suitable candidates can also be submitted by the members of the Cultural Foundation’s supervisory board.
In order to nominate a candidate, the following must be submitted: a written application with personal information (name, address, education, and work experience), a detailed description of the activities being submitted for the award along with recommendations from the candidate’s employer or working collective, professional, occupational or specialized association(s). These documents should be sent to the President of the Republic’s Cultural Foundation at A. Weizenbergi 39, 15050 Tallinn, or with a digital signature by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The supervisory board of the Cultural Foundation shall choose three award winners from the applicants. If necessary, the Cultural Foundation may ask experts from other fields of activity for advice and recommendations on assigning the award.
The decision to present the award is made on a consensual basis and coordinated with the Estonian branch of Danske Bank A/S (hereinafter, Danske Bank).
The awards are presented at the end of October or the start of November (after the autumn school holidays) every year.
The awards are 4,800, 3,500 and 2,900 Euros and are financed by Danske Bank. Danske Bank undertakes to finance the awards for three years following the signing of the cooperation agreement.
The awards shall be presented by the President of the Republic.
Laureates to date:
(From 2003 to 2008, the Educational Award was financed by Hansapank)
2003
Tarmo Kerstna – a long-time teacher and teaching methodologist, also a long-time headmaster of Ülenurme Secondary School and educational leader
Kersti Nigesen – Headmistress of the Old Town Educational College, creator of a new type of educational institution and a unique model of education
Martin Ehala – Head of the Chair of Estonian Language at the Tallinn Pedagogical University, Professor, author of reference books and textbooks
2004
Jüri Vene – a long-time schoolmaster, teacher in Miina Härma Secondary School
Tiia-Ester Loitme – Head of the Ellerhein Children’s Choir from 1989. Excellent music teacher, internationally renowned choir conductor and teacher of school music
Irene Käosaar ja Peeter Mehisto – leaders of a successful language bathing programme, introducers of new language learning methods in Estonia
2005
Lauri Leesi – Headmasster of the Tallinn French Secondary School, for introducing a humanist view in teaching and education process
Inge Unt – Professor Emeritus, Tartu University, founder of the Estonian school of didactics
Evald Laprik – a long-time educational leader, founder of the Union of Estonian School Headmasters
2006
Helgi Uudelepp – teacher of mathematics, Gustav Adolf Secondary School
Mart Kuurme – teacher of physics; Tallinn Secondary Science School
Rein Grünbach – teacher of art, C. R. Jakobson Secondary School, Viljandi
2007
Tiina Talvi – biology teacher and headmistress, Lümanda Main School
Ene Jakobson – the founder and long-time leader of the dance ensemble "Sõleke"
Vladimir Ossipov – teacher of chemistry, Tallinn 53rd Secondary School
2008
Nora Mals - Russian language teacher at the Tallinn Secondary Science School
Ülle Liiber - trains geography teachers at the University of Tartu
Urve Krause - the director at the Pärnu Kuninga Street Basic School
2009
Urmas Kokassaar – biology didactics lecturer at the Science Education Centre of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Tartu
Terje Varul – teacher of Estonian language and literature at Kolga Secondary School
Heli Adamovitš – the director of Päikene kindergarten in Narva
2010
Leili Sägi – Pärnu Russian Secondary School, teacher of Estonian language and literature
Villu Baumann – Haapsalu Sanatorium Boarding School, work and technology teacher
Maia Lilje – Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn, teacher of music history
2011
Viivi Maanso – Tallinn University, Senior Lecturer Emeritus
Andres Talts – Tallinn Secondary Science School, teacher of mathematics
Reet Noorlaid – Tartu Miina Härma Secondary School, teacher of English
2012
Aime Punga – Director of Studies at Hugo Treffner Secondary School
Toom Õunapuu – Pedagogy researcher, methodologist in Estonian language teaching and textbook author
Urve Keskküla – Exercise group instructor at Tallinn Nõmme Youth House, member of the artistic board of gymnastics and dance parties and designer and director of gymnastics programmes