Speaker Administration

To receive reimbursement for your Speakers in the Schools engagement:

1. Complete the online evaluation form.
2. Submit the reimbursement form, including receipts, by mail, email or fax.

Payment will not be issued until the online evaluation is received.
Both the evaluation and reimbursement form must be submitted within two (2)weeks of the event date.

** Speakers are eligible to present ten (10) Speakers in the Schools events for the 2010 calendar year.**

New York State Education Standards - Questionnaire Form
Please complete the Standards Questionnaire Form by identifying the standards that apply to your lecture(s). Return completed form to tvarites@nyhumanities.org.
For more detailed information, please review the Learning Standards for English Language Arts, and Social Studies

Planning Tips for Speakers working with high school students: Word
The Council’s educational consultant has developed a set of tips for Speakers in the Schools that will help you tailor your presentation to a high school student audience.

Common Questions

The following are those questions most frequently asked by current Speakers. If you have a question about the administration of the program that is not answered here, please send it to sischools@nyhumanities.org.

How many lectures can I present at a school?
Speakers can receive only one (1) honorarium per day for Speakers in the Schools bookings.  Please use your discretion when making arrangements with the host school regarding your lecture time length and format.  As a Speaker, you are expected to present for about 90-minutes, including time for Q&A.  

To make the most of your Speakers in the Schools event, encourage the coordinator to combine as many classes as possible to best utilize your time. For example, present to two-40 minutes class sessions, or speak to an assembly.

It is your responsibility to establish clear guidelines with the coordinator regarding the terms of your speaking engagement, such as length of lecture and format (classroom, assembly, etc.).  Prior to the event, be sure you and the coordinator both understand the parameters of the program.

The Council does not limit the number of lectures a Speaker can give at any one school, but each lecture must be approved separately. So, you may accept multiple offers to speak at the same school as long as the Council approves them all.

I would like a graphic or an image shown with my program listings in the on-line catalogue, how can I post one?
If you have an image or photo that you would like to have considered for posting alongside your lecture offerings, e-mail the graphic in digital format, as a .jpeg file with resolution 97 dpi at 4x6 to: sischools@nyhumanities.org. Please include all information granting the Council permission to reproduce the image online, as well as image credit and caption information in your e-mail.

I sent in my Reimbursement Request Form weeks ago - where is my check?
Due to the Council's disbursement schedule, please allow a minimum of six to eight (6-8) weeks for reimbursement for any speaking engagement. If you have not received your payment more than eight (8) weeks after submitting your Reimbursement Request Form, please e-mail the program coordinator at sischools@nyhumanities.org.

I've been contacted by a school and requested to speak, but I haven't heard anything from the Council - what is happening with this application?
Occasionally, a school will contact a Speaker and request a time and date for a lecture engagement, and later fail to send in an application form. The Council requires all application forms for Speakers in the Schools to arrive five (5) weeks in advance of the proposed lecture date, and will respond to all applicants within three (3) weeks of Council receipt of application. If you have not received notification from the Council of the status of your lecture by three (3) weeks before your lecture date, please contact the program administrator at sischools@nyhumanities.org. You should never deliver a lecture for which you have not received a letter of approval of funding from the Council. The Council cannot pay a Speaker for delivering a lecture that has not been pre-approved.

Why have I received a copy of a letter sent to a school from the Council stating that their application to host my lecture has been rejected?
If the Council denies funding to an applying school, the Speaker requested by that school receives a copy of the "denial of funds" letter. In this manner, the Speakers are kept apprised of the status of all applications concerning any lecture that they present, whether those applications are approved or denied.

I received a copy of a letter to a school stating that their application has been rejected, but I've never heard of the school, and they didn't ask me to speak for them - what should I do?
Occasionally, a school applies to the Council without following the guidelines. If you receive a letter of denial for a lecture engagement about which you were not aware, this is because the school has failed to contact you before applying to the Council for funds. You are never obligated to deliver a lecture that you have not agreed to give.

I received a letter stating that a school’s application to host my lecture has been approved, but the school never contacted me to arrange the lecture - what should I do?
If you receive a letter indicating that funds have been awarded for a lecture engagement about which you were not aware, it is your option to accept or reject the engagement. If you choose to reject the engagement, please notify the Lecture Coordinator immediately and inform the Council of the discrepancy.

I would like to accept a request to speak at a school that is located far away from me, such that the travel and lodging fees will add up to more than $300 - what can I do?
If a speaking engagement will reach underserved or geographically isolated audiences, the Council will occasionally be able to raise the travel reimbursement limit to $350. If you believe that you will require this extension of funds, please call the Council to request an extension BEFORE the date of your lecture. The Council cannot reimburse expenses not previously authorized. If the travel expenses for a lecture will exceed $350, the Speaker and the host school may work together to arrange ways to cover the remainder of the travel expense. Speakers should look into the feasibility of staying within their allotted travel budget before accepting any engagement that will require extensive travel.