• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

TEAM Award

Established in 1990, the TEAM award (Together, Educators and Administrators Make it Happen) is designed to honor a school administrator who has worked to create a collaborative, collegial working environment for all staff in a school building or district.

In order to help the selection committee fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, comparable information is needed for all candidates. Please provide typewritten information for the following:

• The full name, position, and mailing address of the candidate as well as the name and address of the individual and local association making the nomination.
• A statement describing how the nominee has worked to create a collaborative, collegial working environment in a school building or school district and the time frame during which this working environment has been created.
• A recent "head and shoulders" photo.

Eligibility Requirements

Any school administrator, current or retired, is eligible to receive this award. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

The Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award

A program launched in 1991, the Human Relations Award honors an individual or group for exemplary contributions toward the advancement of human and civil rights. This program is designed to accomplish the following goals:

• to recognize contributions of individuals and/or groups, while encouraging others in their human and civil rights efforts, and
• to foster development of programs for the advancement and protection of human and civil rights among ISEA members.

In order to help the selection committee fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, comparable information is needed for all candidates. Through contributions and programs, nominees for the ISEA Human Relations Award must have demonstrated effectiveness in working in at least two of the following human relations areas:

1. Established or improved an effective human relations program in a school district or building, area education agency, area community college, or four-year institution of higher education.
2. Promoted multi-ethnic educational opportunity:
   1. 1. Helped to bring about improved inter-group and intra-group relations and understandings.
   2. 2. Promoted quality in educational opportunity for minority children.
   3. 3. Promoted the inclusion of human relations training for educators in in-service and pre-service programs.
   4. 4. Designed and initiated plans to identify and encourage the use of effective multi-ethnic teaching materials in the area of human rights.
3. Demonstrated creative leadership in women's rights:
   1. 1. Worked to gain for women a greater voice in educational policy and decision making.
   2. 2. Helped to eliminate sex-role stereotyping within school curriculum.
   3. 3. Worked to improve the economic situation and job opportunities for women in the educational community or community in general.
4. Contributed significant leadership in eliminating discrimination against, and providing increased opportunity for, handicapped persons.
5. Advanced educators' rights and worked to involve the community:
   1. 1. Helped protect and advance the human and civil rights of educators.
   2. 2. Worked to eradicate discrimination in the education profession.
   3. 3. Established program(s) that provide for real community involvement and created in the community a feeling of investment and responsibility for the operation of the schools.
   4. 4. Designed and carried out project(s) to inform the public about what human rights are and how they can be secured.

Eligibility Requirements

Any Association member, other educator, school district or group, or member of the general public is eligible to receive this award. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

Friend of Education Award

Education is a total community effort. School employees must combine their efforts to provide the quality of education children need for the world of today and tomorrow. Through the ISEA Friend of Education Award, the ISEA honors all citizens who give their time and energy, but pays special tribute to one who has demonstrated unusual dedication, leadership, and effective service in improving educational opportunities for children. Nominations may be submitted by any individual or local association.

In order to help the ISEA Friend of Education selection committee fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, comparable information is needed for all candidates. Please provide typewritten information for the following:

• A statement describing the most outstanding educational contribution made by the nominee.
• A listing of all areas or ways the nominee has contributed to improving educational opportunities for students (include length of involvement for each area if applicable (i.e. developing programs for gifted and talented students, 3 years; or summer school programs, 5 years).
• Describe whether the contribution made by the nominee was within the nominee's regular job and whether the nominee was involved in the planning and implementation of their area of contribution.
• Outline the scope of the nominee's contributions (how many students and buildings were impacted, was the contribution for one year or is it ongoing?).
• List the contributions provided by the nominee that resulted in better educational opportunities for children (i.e. new or expanded programs, opportunities provided not available through other sources).
• Provide any additional information on why you feel your nominee should be selected for the Friend of Education Award.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Only citizens not currently employed by an education agency can be considered for the ISEA Friend of Education Award. School employees and retired school employees are not eligible.
2. Nominees for the Friend of Education Award should be persons who have made a significant contribution to the support of programs and activities resulting in better educational opportunities for children. Nominations shall be submitted by affiliated local associations, UniServ units, or individual members of the Association. A recent head and shoulders photograph of the nominee should be included with the nomination.
3. The ISEA Friend of Education Award will be presented in the home community of the winning nominee by an ISEA officer at a time and place mutually agreeable to the ISEA and the local association.
4. Public announcement of the Friend of Education selection will be made by the ISEA after notification and consultation with local association officials.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

Education Support Professional (ESP) Award

The ESP Award was established to recognize contributions by a support staff member for their efforts to advance the ISEA and ESP activities within the Association in one or more of the following areas:

• Professional Practice: Describe the worksite responsibilities and personal achievements the nominee has made in his/her classification or field. How has the nominee demonstrated leadership, creativity, and innovation at the worksite? How has the nominee's professional growth made a difference for the school, the students, and community?
• Advocacy and Association Involvement: In what ways does the nominee serve as an advocate in the day-to-day educational process, for members, for the profession, and for public education? How has the nominee's involvement in Association work (local, ISEA and/or NEA) contributed to his/her success as a professional? How would the nominee persuade a new colleague to join or become more active in the Association?
• Community Engagement: Specify in detail how the nominee has been involved in promoting public education in the community. In what other ways is the nominee involved in community activities/projects?
• Personal Achievement: How has involvement in Association and community activities enabled the nominee to meet his/her own personal goals? What advice would the nominee give to someone entering the profession?
• Enhancement of ESP Image: Describe in detail how the nominee's activities have enhanced the image of Educational Support Professionals at the worksite, in the Association, and in the community.
  
  All nominations submitted to ISEA will be evaluated on the basis of criteria stated on this nomination form. The selection committee consists of members of the ISEA ESP Committee. Selection Committee members rate nominees on a scale of 1 to 5 for each criterion, where 1 represents minimal evidence of the criterion, and 5 represents very strong evidence of the criterion. The ISEA President presents their recommendation to the ISEA Executive Board for consideration and approval.
  

Eligibility Requirements

The nominee must be a member of the ISEA. Members of the ISEA Executive Board and members of the Education Support Professionals Committee are not eligible during their terms or appointments, unless retiring from the profession. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

Charles F. Martin Award for Association Leadership

The prestigious Charles F. Martin Award has been presented annually since 1972 as ISEA's top honor to a member who has made a significant contribution to the teaching profession through Association involvement. It's named in honor of the late Charles F. Martin who served as ISEA president in 1945 and then as executive director from 1946 to 1961. Any individual or local association may submit a nomination.

In order to help the selection committee fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, comparable information is needed for all candidates. Please provide typewritten information for the following:

• Number of years of service to education in Iowa through association activities.
• Current association position.
• A listing of the candidate's association activities (local, UniServ, state, and national levels), educational background, and teaching experience.
• Letters of recommendation from association members, co-workers, and others who are familiar with the nominee's association and educational activities.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Only ISEA members who have been involved in leadership and who have provided support of Association activities for at least ten years are eligible.
2. Nominees must be currently employed as educators in Iowa.
3. Current ISEA Executive Board members are not eligible.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

• Download the awards flyer here (pdf).
• Awards application form (pdf).

Beacon Award for Local Association Excellence

This award is designed to honor local associations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and activity in the areas of communications, community involvement, advocacy, and programs. Any local association is eligible to be nominated.

Please provide printed summaries as well as supporting documents or artifacts as appropriate to demonstrate the local association's activities in the following areas:

• Communications: The local association has a regular system for keeping members informed.
• Community involvement: The local association undertakes activities to generate goodwill, build support for local schools, and increase its visibility in the community.
• Advocacy: The local association advocates on behalf of the needs of members and students.
• Programs: The local association and its members are actively engaged in programs and activities that meet members' needs and help the Association achieve its goals.

Deadline for nominations: January 15.

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 .

How does your local association or UniServ unit newsletter measure up with others published in the state? Does it merit special recognition? There’s only one way to find out—enter the annual ISEA Newsletter Recognition Program!

Newsletter Recognition Program application form 

Iowa students can gain statewide recognition by participating in the ISEA's "Design-a-Decal" competition.

Here are the guidelines for the 2011-2012 competition:

1. Designs should be original creations drawn in black ink on white paper. Designs with small details should be avoided. The bolder the design and the fewer details will result in a sticker that is easily reproduced as the final sticker size is 1"x1". Designs depicting a copywrighted character will be disqualified.

2. Designs should be done in a square format on a single, unmounted, 5" by 5" piece of white paper. Do not submit designs on 8 1/2" x 11" paper.

3. Words that would be appropriate to recognize student achievement may be included in the design. Be sure to check spelling--designs with misspelled words may be disqualified.

4. Entries must be evaluated and screened locally; no more than five designs should be submitted per building from each of the three categories (elementary K-5; junior high/middle school 6-8; high school 9-12). Only one design per student will be accepted.

5. All entries must have the name of the student, student’s grade level, cooperating teacher’s first and last names, school building, school street address, city, zip code, and school district name printed or typed on the back of each entry.

6. Entries should be submitted to ISEA Communications, 777 Third Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50309, by April 15, 2011. Entries postmarked after that date will not be evaluated.

A panel of evaluators selected by the ISEA will review the designs. Twenty-four designs will be selected to be used as the 2011-2012 ISEA Student Achievement Decals. No more than two designs will be selected from any one school. All grade levels will be represented in the winning entries. Originality, creativity, and overall impact of appearance will be the evaluation criteria used by the selection committee.

All entries will remain the property of ISEA and may be used by ISEA at any time for other educational purposes. Teachers of students producing winning entries will be notified of the results of the competition in May. Results of the competition will be published in the ISEA Communique and mailed to news media outlets the following fall by the ISEA.

Note: Failure to follow the criteria may result in disqualification of the design.

ISEA reserves the right to slightly modify the design to enhance final printed quality.

Questions? e-mail cswanson@isea.org

Download the flyer.