The National State Teachers of the Year organization was excited to present to Dolly Parton the "Chasing Rainbows" Award on April 5, 2002 at the dedication of the Chasing Rainbows Museum in Dollywood. Dolly has not only captured the rainbow, but the pot of gold at the end as well. But it wasn't that pot of gold that captured NTOY's attention; it was "a heart filled with gold." Dolly loves children and it is her desire that all children across the nation have books of their very own in their own home, become better readers, and expand their imaginations. Although everyone knows Dolly as a talented singer, songwriter, and actress, this award honors her for her lifelong commitment to improve the lives of children.

Every year NSTOY will honor a Chasing Rainbows Teacher of the Year who, like Dolly Parton, has overcome great obstacles in his/her life, has captured the rainbows, and is helping children. This distinguished award will be displayed in a permanent place in the Chasing Rainbows Museum wit the award winning teacher's name beside Dolly's as a reminder to people to never be afraid to chase their dreams. The recipient of the award will be treated to a weekend trip to Dollywood to meet Dolly, have their name added to the award, and enjoy the beautiful Smokey Mountains.

It takes two things to make a rainbow: bright shining light and tiny droplets of water. This bright light, representing Dolly and the teacher, shining through the tiny droplets of water, which are the children, will make a beautiful rainbow and lead us all to the pot of gold; our future generation.

Dolly's love for children represents the spirit of the National State Teachers of the Year organization. Dolly launched the Imagination Library in 1996 to promote reading among preschool children in Seview County, a rural community in the Great Smokey Mountains. It generated so much interest that in 2000 she decided to offer the program nationally. Today, Dolly's Imagination Library reaches nearly 80,000 children in 395 communities and in 36 states. The books-from life's little lessons to bedtime stories-are mailed once a month, starting at birth, and continues through sixty selections until the child turns five years old. She has a national literacy board that selects the books and her Dollywood Foundation's Board of Directors manages the Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton was the first recipient of the "Chasing Rainbows" Award. NTOY recognizes annually a Chasing Rainbows Teacher of the Year who epitomizes the "spirit" of this award. The goals are as follows:

• To bring recognition to the Chasing Rainbows Teacher of the Year who overcame obstacles to become an exemplary teacher
• To honor teachers who enhance the teaching profession in the eyes of the public
• To stress empathy and better meet the needs of students
• To increase NSTOY and State Chapters membership
• To encourage TOYs to become chartered State Chapters
• To challenge chartered State Chapters to become more actively involved

1. Each state chapter may select one or more nominees
2. The nominee may be nominated by someone else or self-nominated
3. The nominee must be a paid NSTOY and/or a State Chapter member
4. The nominee may be actively teaching or retired