NHL, NHLPA, SAP team up with EVERFI to recognize Most Valuable Teachers
January 28, 2022
When the pandemic forced schools to move classes online in 2020, all students were essentially forced to become online learners and, in turn, many teachers had to quickly learn a broad range of news technical skills, and find creative ways to adapt curriculum to keep virtual students engaged - while also suffering from fatigue themselves.
To honor these teachers, the NHL, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and SAP are once again partnering with EVERFI for the Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher program presented by SAP. The NHL noted that with the shift to hybrid virtual and traditional learning practices, "teachers have become even more important in the lives of their students, as they not only educate but also instill values, build character and shape future generations."
In its third year, the program will continue to recognize 20 teachers who have used the Future Goals Hockey Scholar program, a digital course for K-12 students that uses the sport to promote STEM education. Each month, fans in the US and Canada can vote for their favorite teacher who used this program from Jan 1 through March 31. The monthly voting will then narrow the field down to three finalists. Final voting will take place May 2-6, during Teacher Appreciation Week 2022, before the crowning of the Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher.
As an extension of Future Goals, which offers educational opportunities to each of the 32 NHL markets in the United States and Canada, the Most Valuable Teacher program will ultimately celebrate 60 dynamic teachers who have made an impact across North America. The nominee with the most votes at the end of each month will receive $10,000 worth of technology donations for their school district as well as street hockey equipment. This year, the overall winners will also receive a $20,000 donation from SAP to use in their school district toward Environmental Sustainability Resources.
“Teachers play an extraordinarily important and impactful role in the lives of young people around the world," said Rob Zepp, director, strategic initiatives for the NHLPA. "Knowing this, the opportunity to recognize teachers through the Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher program is something that we, along with our partners at the NHL, SAP and EVERFI, are extremely proud of."
Future Goals has impacted more than 3.5 million students since its 2014 inception. Funded by the NHL and NHLPA, it provides resources to teachers, parents and families using a digital hockey-themed STEM curriculum for elementary and middle school students. The stories of this year's candidates will be told throughout Teacher Appreciation Week, where fans will be encouraged to vote for their favorite.
"Just as professional hockey players in the NHL get to live their childhood dream every day, being a teacher for the past 26 years has given me the ability to live out my childhood dream," said Joan Kilban, the 2020 Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher of the Year.
"I'm truly honored to be able to be a part of a child's life and help shape their future. It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. The gift of $30,000 from SAP could not have come at a better time than the Spring of 2020. Like so many others across the world, our school system was suddenly forced to shift to online learning and the very generous gift was used to address inequities in access to technology. We've also gone on to purchase software programs to help with some of the learning gaps from the Covid 19 pandemic and it is making a tremendous difference. Our teachers, students and families are so grateful!"
The NHL are Founding Supporters of Beyond Sport.