Teachers play a huge role in not only teaching our children to read, but helping to turn them into lifelong readers. For those of us who enjoy books and stories, we know how important that is.

If you know any teachers who have creatively inspired the love of reading for you or your kids, teachers who are visionary in their methods to help reluctant readers, or teachers who ‘promote a community of readers’, you may want to think of nominating them for the Random House Teacher Awards.

From the website: “The Random House Teacher Awards recognize the nation’s most dynamic and resourceful teachers who use their creativity to inspire and successfully instill a love of reading in students. The winning teachers will be awarded grants to help make their innovative reading programs possible.”

Any full-time or part-time teacher in the public schools in grades K-12 is eligible.

Awards will be given in grants. First place $10,000, Second place $5,000, and $2,500.

Here are the guidelines, and here is a link to the application form.

The deadline for submissions is Saturday, September 1, 2012