Teachers Count

Teacher Awards and Competitions

Browse awards and competitions or select a specific area of interest.

Art Teacher Awards
Character Education Awards
English and Language Arts Awards
Foreign Language Teacher Awards
General Teacher Awards
Math, Science, and Technology Teacher Awards
Regional Awards
Social Studies Teacher Awards
Special Education Awards

For extra motivation, check out CelebriTeachers, a new feature on TeachersCount.org devoted to highlighting award-winning teachers around the country.

Coca-Cola Company and National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Distinguished Teachers in the Arts Program: The Coca-Cola Company and NFAA recognize outstanding high school teachers in the arts. Teachers are selected by their students - both past and present. Each ARTS winner provides NFAA with the names of two teachers who have had the most profound influence on their artistic development. NFAA selects two teachers each year for this honor. These teachers are invited to participate in ARTS Week held in Miami, Florida. The Coca-Cola Company underwrites all expenses associated with the Distinguished Teachers in the Arts awards, including the cost of the teachers' transportation to Miami, accommodations, meals and a $1,000 stipend each.
Deadline:: Oct 1 of each year
International Association of Jazz Education: A list of awards is available on the IAJE site for jazz educators. Contact information for nominations: via e-mail to awards@iaje.org or mailed to IAJE Awards, P.O. Box 724, Manhattan, KS 66505 USA.
Deadline: September 1, 2008
National Schools of Character Program: National Schools of Character (NSOC) is an annual awards program recognizing K-12 schools and districts demonstrating outstanding character education initiatives that yield positive results in student behavior, school climate and academic performance. Although winners may differ in method, content, and scope, all emphasize core ethical values such as honesty, respect, responsibility and caring. Selected schools and districts receive a cash award of $2,000, national recognition, and are featured in the Character Education Partnership (CEP)’s annual NSOC book/CD and on CEP’s website.
Deadline: Late 2008
Journalism Education Association: The JEA offers a list of awards for JEA members and non-members who have made contributions to journalism education.
Deadline: October 15th of every year
National High School Journalism Teacher Awards Program: The award for the teacher of the year includes a newsroom laptop computer, The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition and a column in Advisor Update.
Deadline: July 1, 2008
ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Awards: The council provides numerous awards for educators.
Deadline: Late April 2008
Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award: The Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award was approved by the Foundation's Board of Trustees in September 2001 and recognizes exceptional teachers who further mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese. The award is presented annually to two pre-college teachers in two categories, humanities and Japanese language, and consists of a certificate of recognition, a $2,500 monetary award, and $5,000 in project funds. It is named in honor of Elgin Heinz for his commitment to educating students about Asia as well as for the inspiration he has provided to the field of pre-college education.
Deadline: Early February of every year
American Library Association: This site offers a variety of awards for school librarians, media professionals, and teachers.
Deadline: Various
American Stars of Teaching: American Stars recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers will be highlighted as representatives of the thousands of teachers who are making a difference in the classroom.
Deadline: March 2009
Freida J. Riley Teacher Award: This award annually recognizes an American teacher who is working with a physical disability, who is dealing with an especially challenging educational environment, or who has performed a heroic act for his/her students in order to positively impact them. It is given in honor of Freida J. Riley, the teacher who inspired the book Rocket Boys and who is depicted in the film October Sky. The recipient is awarded with a 10,000-dollar check.
Deadline: February 2009
ING Unsung Heroes Award: ING honors outstanding teachers in all 50 states through a $2,000 grant program. The First Place Teacher receives $25,000.
Deadline: April 30 of every year
Milken Family Foundation: National Educator Awards: This program is designed to honor educators who are making great strides in improving education. From its original presentation of awards to a dozen California educators, the program has grown to national stature.
Deadline: N/A
National Middle School Association: The NMSA has a list of awards that are awarded to outstanding middle grade educators.
Deadline: Various
National Teacher of the Year Program: Sponsored by The Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, the National Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. A national selection committee representing the major national education organizations chooses the National Teacher of the Year from among the State Teachers of the Year. The site contains information about the application and nominating processes, duties of the National Teacher of the Year, and the selection criteria.
Deadline: N/A
The National Teachers Hall of Fame: The National Teachers Hall of Fame annually honors five teachers who have demonstrated commitment and dedication to teaching. Anyone may nominate a teacher. Inductees receive a $1,000 stipend, $1,000 in materials for their school district, a $1,000 scholarship for a student in the inductee's school district who is planning to pursue a degree in education, and more. Candidates must be certified classroom teachers (active or retired) with at least 20 years experience teaching in grades preK-12.
Deadline: January 2009
NEA Foundation: The National Education Association’s Foundation for the Improvement of Education offers grants and awards for educators listed.
Deadline: Various
State Teacher of the Year: Each state has a teacher of the year program. State teachers can nominate themselves or be nominated by parents and students. Each state’s program is different; for nomination details contact the program coordinator for your state. Those who are named State Teacher of the Year are also considered for the National Teacher of the Year Award.
Deadline: Various
Thomson Gale TEAMS Award: The Thomson Gale TEAMS Award recognizes and encourages the critical collaboration between teachers and media specialists to promote learning and increase student achievement. Three winners each receive a $2,500 cash award; Thomson Gale products worth approximately $500; a one-year subscription to Library Media Connection; and the Educator's Professional Bookshelf from Linworth Publishing. Nominations may be submitted by library media specialists, teachers, principals, students, or parents, from all K-12 public and private schools in the US and Canada.
Deadline: Early September of every year
USA Today All Star Teachers: USA TODAY honors 20 exceptional teachers a year. Winners are announced in October and they have their photographs published and accomplishments noted in USA TODAY. Each teacher also receives a trophy and a $2,500 cash award — $500 for each of the teachers and the remainder to the school for use as designated by the teachers.
Deadline: April of every year
Young Educator Award: The ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award nominee is an education professional, 40 years of age or younger, who demonstrates exemplary commitment and exceptional contribution to the profession. This person's creative and innovative accomplishments within the classroom, school, district, state, or region have had a significant impact on student performance and achievement over time and provide an ongoing model of excellence in encouraging all learners to succeed. The educator's body of work consistently proves leadership among colleagues. The winner receives $10,000.
Deadline: August 1, 2008
ACTE National Awards Program: The Association for Career and Technical Education awards program seeks to promote excellence in career and technical education by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field, programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations that have conducted activities to promote and expand career and technical education programs.
Deadline: Various
Air Force Association Teacher of the Year Award: In addition to offering awards and scholarships to students, the AFA gives Teacher of the Year awards on the national, state, and chapter level.
Deadline: Various
Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards: The Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards is Cable in the Classroom's annual awards program to recognize administrators, educators, community leaders and policymakers who demonstrate vision, innovation, action and transformation in education. The objective of the awards is to promote and encourage innovative learning practices by honoring individuals who have transformed an aspect of education on a large or small scale. Awards are given in five different categories, including "Pushing the Envelope with Cable Technology and Programming" and "Media Literacy". Winners receive transportation to and lodging in Washington, D. C. for a celebration and a grant of $3,000.
Deadline: January 2009
Edythe May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching at the Middle and High School Levels: This award is given to mathematics teachers who are nominated for their quality instruction.
Deadline: December/January 2009
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year Award: The TOY award identifies and recognizes exemplary family and consumer sciences teachers who exhibit a deep commitment to the profession and association. These teachers have outstanding educational programs, methods, techniques and activities that raise awareness of family and consumer sciences at the elementary and secondary levels.
Deadline: January 2009
ITEA Educator Awards: This site provides a list of International Technology Education Association awards available to technology educators.
Deadline: December 1 of every year
MFA Master Teacher Fellowship: The Newton Master Teacher Fellowship, offered by Math for America, is a $50,000, four-year award available to outstanding teachers of mathematics in the New York City public high schools. The program's purpose is to recognize mathematics teachers who demonstrate solid mathematical knowledge and have outstanding performance records. This four-year program provides annual stipends of $12,500 to each Master Teacher and presents opportunities for professional development and collaboration with other teachers that will help to ensure that Fellows excel as teachers and are satisfied in their careers. Master Teachers stay in the schools where they are currently working. All Math for America activities happen outside of the work day. Math for America awards approximately ten Master Teacher Fellowships each year.
Deadline: March 2009
National Association of Biology Teachers: This site has a list of awards especially for biology teachers with prizes ranging from new equipment to professional development trips.
Deadline: Various
National Association for Environmental Education: The NAEE K-12 Teacher of the Year Award is presented to an individual who is recognized for promoting environmental education and utilizing the environment as a context for learning.
Deadline: May 2, 2008
National KIND Teacher Award: The National Association for Humane and Environmental Education recognizes an outstanding teacher who consistently incorporates humane and environmental education into his or her curriculum.
Deadline: February 2009
National Science Teachers Association: NSTA has numerous grants and award programs available for teachers.
Deadline: Various
Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award: Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the secondary level." Middle school and high-school teachers are eligible. Eleven national finalists are selected, one from each National Association of Geosciences Teachers section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award.
Deadline: February 1 of every year
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science: Established by an act from Congress and the National Science Foundation, this is hailed as the highest award for math and science teachers. In even-numbered years, honors are bestowed upon K-6 teachers, while 7th and 8th grade teachers are honored in odd-numbered years. Recipients receive $10,000, a citation from the president, and a trip to DC for a week of ceremonies in their honor and much more.
Deadline: May 1^st of every year
Time Warner Cable National Teacher Awards: Outstanding K-12 teachers who develop creative learning experiences using cable television resources such as programming or Internet technology can apply for this award designed to encourage the development and effective use of Cable in the Classroom educational programs. Projects must involve cable resources either with national cable networks or local government, educational or public access programs, or technology that stimulate a national exchange of innovative ideas and programs among educators. Projects should focus on curriculum development in areas such as cross-curricular studies, classroom-to community activities, study-related materials, audiovisual productions and/or multimedia applications.
Deadline: Early September of every year
Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence: This award honors four Jacksonville, Florida preK-12 teachers who inspire students through excellent teaching. Gilchrist Berg, president of Water Street Capital, gives the winners $12,000 each to spend as they wish. The award honors Mr. Berg's fourth grade public school teacher, Gladys Prior. The awards are administered by the University of North Florida. Anyone may nominate a teacher with ten years of experience.
Deadline: March of every year
Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching: The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching program honors 10 teachers in the Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will Counties in Illinois each year. Winners receive a paid sabbatical to take classes at Northwestern University, a laptop computer, a $3,000 stipend, and induction into the Golden Apple Academy.
Deadline: December 1 of every year
MACUL Outstanding Teacher and Educator of the Year: The Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) recognizes and honors MACUL members who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in implementing the use of technology to improve education. The TEA program presents a TEA Technology Classroom to two recognized MACUL recipients; an Outstanding Educator of the Year (school administrator or technology coordinator) and an Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The TEA program also provides a technology award to one runner-up in each of these award categories, and to the recipient of the Technology Coordinator Award of Excellence.
Deadline: December 2008
Ocean Science Leadership Awards: The QuikSCience COSEE-West Ocean Leadership Awards recognize educators who make outstanding contributions to K-12 ocean science education. Each awardee receives a $500 stipend and a recognition plaque.
Deadline: February 2009
American Historical Association: The Beveridge Family Teaching Prize: Established in 1995, this prize honors the Beveridge family’s longstanding commitment to the AHA and K-12 teaching. Friends and family members endowed this award to recognize excellence and innovation in elementary, middle school, and secondary history teaching, including career contributions and specific initiatives. The prize is awarded on a two-year cycle rotation: in even-numbered years, to an individual; in odd-numbered years, to a group. The winner receives a $1500 cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C..
Deadline: March 2009
Association for Childhood Education International: ACEI’s list of awards is centered on excellence in global education.
Deadline: Various
The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History- History Teacher of the Year Award: History Teachers of the Year are chosen from each state and awarded $1,000 and an archive of books for the school library. The National Winner gets an expenses-paid trip to the national recognition ceremony.
Deadline: Varies for each state
National Council for Geographic Education: The NCGE College/University and K-12 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Awards recognize outstanding geography teaching in the colleges, universities, and schools of the United States and Canada, including U.S. Department of Defense schools abroad. NCGE invites nominations for the 2007 awards.
Deadline: April 2009
National History Day Educator Awards: The History Channel presents this award to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to history education through service to the National History Day program. The winner receives $5,000 and a special plaque that is presented at the NHD national contest in June. To be eligible, the individual must be a participant in the National History Day program and may be a teacher, media specialist, district or state History Day coordinator, judge, or parent. Nominees are evaluated based on success in involving students in the program, service to the History Day program, and service to the discipline of history in general.
Organization of American Historians: The Organization of American Historians sponsors an annual award to recognize the contributions made by pre-collegiate or classroom teachers to improve history education. The award is given for activities that enhance the intellectual development of other history teachers and/or students.
Deadline: December 1, 2008
Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award: Sponsored by the National Council for the Social Studies, this award is given to outstanding teachers, researchers, and other individuals and programs. This program recognizes classroom social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12, who teach social studies regularly.
Deadline: April 2009
Veterans of Foreign Wars: The VFW's National Citizenship Education Teachers' Award recognizes the nation's top elementary, junior high and high school teachers who regularly teach citizenship education topics and promote America's history and traditions. Winning teachers and their schools receive 1,000 dollars.
Deadline: November 1^st of every year
National Association of Special Education Teachers: Each year, NASET presents awards in a variety of categories for outstanding professional accomplishments. This site offers many awards for special education teachers.
Deadline: May 1st of every year
P. Buckley Moss Foundation and Moss Society Arts Teacher Award: These awards recognize outstanding teachers who consistently integrate the arts into the teaching of children with learning disabilities and other special needs. The awards also encourage and reward instructional collaboration among teachers whenever arts are included in the classroom learning experience as an essential ingredient in the education of all children.
Deadline: May 15th of every year

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Teacher Awards and Competitions

Art Teacher Awards

Character Education Awards

English and Language Arts Awards

Foreign Language Teacher Awards

General Teacher Awards

Math, Science, and Technology Teacher Awards

Regional Awards

Social Studies Teacher Awards

Special Education Awards