NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence

Nomination Deadline to ISEA: April 17
Presented jointly by the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education and the NEA, this annual awards program recognizes, rewards, and promotes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. It also honors public education and the dedicated members of the Association.

The ISEA will select one nominee from among those submitted to be considered for the national awards. Each state nominee receives expenses-paid travel to The NEA Foundation's Annual Salute to Excellence in Education gala in Washington, D.C. Five national finalists are selected for the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence and receive expenses-paid travel for a guest in addition to themselves. The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence recipient, selected from the five, receives $25,000 in cash and a personalized commemorative gift. The four remaining awardees each receive $10,000 in cash.

Eligibility and Nomination Requirements

All ISEA members are eligible to be nominated, but nominations must be submitted by a local association. Local associations may, if necessary, develop their own selection process.

Criteria

Nominations are judged according to five criteria. Panelists rate nominees on each criterion using the point value indicated below. 

 1)  PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: The nominee demonstrates instructional expertise, creativity, and innovation.  The nominee uses a variety of pedagogical techniques and effectively addresses students' different learning styles and needs.  The nominee is an instructional leader at the local, state, and/or national level.  (15 points)

2)  ADVOCACY FOR THE PROFESSION: The nominee is a current, active member of the local, state, and/or national education association, and has assumed leadership roles at one or more of these levels.  The nominee is an active member of other professional organizations and engages in activities that advance the profession and public education.  The nominee speaks out on behalf of public education, educators, and students. (15 points)

3)   COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The nominee frequently interacts with parents and other community members on substantive education issues.  The nominee brings community resources to the classroom and conducts service learning projects with his or her students in the community.  (5 points)

4)  LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The nominee continually engages in experiences to improve his or her practice and to gain new skills and knowledge.  The nominee shares this new learning with colleagues in a variety of venues.  The nominee's participation in and commitment to professional development has a visible impact on his or her institution, students, and community.  (10 points)

5)  ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY: The nominee works to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of differences.  The nominee recognizes and explicitly addresses the full array of values, cultures, and experiences represented in our diverse modern society, both through curriculum and instruction and in other interactions with students.  (5 points)

Contents of Nomination

Nomination packages must include all of the items listed below, in the specified order. Nomination Formatting instructions are noted for each section. 

A)  DATA SHEET
The data sheet requests contact information for the state, federal, or direct affiliate; the nominee; and the nominee's local affiliate.  The data sheet can be downloaded here. One page maximum. The form must be typed.

B) NOMINATION LETTER
The nomination letter from the state, federal, or direct affiliate president illustrates why the nominee deserves the award.  Alternatively, a local president can write the official nomination letter outlining the awardee's qualifications and the state president can attach an additional page with one sentence certifying the nomination. Three pages maximum, double-spaced, 12-point or larger type with 1" or greater margins on all sides. Must be on the affiliate letterhead and signed by the affiliate president.

C)  RESUME
The resume provides a brief, factual overview of the nominee's career, including positions held, degrees attained, honors received, etc.  The resume may also describe personal achievements or activities that are not noted elsewhere. One page maximum, double-spaced, 12-point or larger type with 1" or greater margins on all sides. Use narrative, bulleted lists, or both.

D)  NOMINEE'S STATEMENT
The nominee's statement must be written by the nominee, as a first-person narrative.  The statement includes specific examples to illustrate all five of the award criteria.  The questions below do not need to be copied verbatim in the text.  However, nominees are strongly encouraged to include headings or keywords related to the criteria to aid the panelists in their reading. Five pages maximum, double-spaced, 12-point or larger type with 1" or greater margins on all sides. 
 
1)   What are the most successful innovations that you have introduced in your classroom or school?  What strategies or methods do you use to ensure that all students achieve at a high level?  How do you act as an instructional leader?

2)   How has your involvement in the National Education Association or NEA affiliate(s) contributed to your success as an educator?  How would you persuade a new colleague to join or become more active in the association?  In what other ways do you serve as an advocate for the profession and for public education?

3) What community resources do you bring to the classroom to enhance your lessons and student achievement?  What service learning projects have you conducted with your students to benefit the community?

4)   What experiences or activities have been most beneficial to your professional knowledge, skills, and practice?  How have you contributed to the professional development of your colleagues?  How has your professional growth made a difference for your school or university, your students, and your community?  Include examples.

5)   How do you address issues of diversity in your curriculum and instruction and in other interactions with students?  What is the result of such efforts?  How does your approach to diversity affect your work?

6)   If you have not already done so, tell a story about how your approach to teaching made a difference for a student or a group of students.

7)   What advice would you give to someone entering the profession on how to attain teaching excellence?
  
E)  LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT
Letters of endorsement are written by the nominee's local affiliate president, colleagues, current or former students, parents, or community members.  Letters should be signed, and the salutation should address the state affiliate selection committee or the national panel for The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence. Up to three letters, two pages maximum each, 12-point or larger type, 1" or greater margins on all sides, double-speaced preferred. Must be submitted with all other materials.

Submission   
1)   Do not staple or permanently bind the materials.  Paper clips are acceptable.
2)   Do not use covers or other decorative packaging.
3)   Include only the materials requested in these guidelines.
4)   Mail complete nomination package for receipt at the ISEA office by 5:00 pm April 17 . Submissions by fax or e-mail are not permitted.

Send your nomination package to:

Chris Bern, President
Iowa State Education Association
777 3rd Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Questions?
Call or e-mail Chris Bern 1-800-445-9358 or cbern@isea.org .