Freida J. Riley Teacher Award

Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation Freida J. Riley Teacher Award annually recognizes an American teacher who overcomes adversity or makes an enormous sacrifice in order to positively impact students. It is given in honor of teacher Freida J. Riley who died of Hodgkin’s disease at the age of 31.
Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility: full-time teachers (grades K-12), in any accredited U.S. public, private, or charter school.
> nmoe.org/riley/index.htm

Unsung Heroes Awards Program

The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education through monetary awards.
Maximum Award: $25,000 to Grand Prize Winner.
Eligibility: full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff members with effective projects that improve student learning at an accredited K-12 public or private school.
Deadline: April 30, 2007.
> www.ing-usa.com/us//aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/unsungheroes/001137.html

National KIND Teacher Award

National Association for Humane and Environmental Education National KIND Teacher Award recognizes an outstanding teacher who consistently incorporates humane and environmental education into his or her curriculum.
Maximum Award: n/a.
Eligibility: teachers K-6.
> www.nahee.org/awards/national_kind_teacher_award.asp

American Stars of Teaching Program

The U.S. Department of Education plans to honor outstanding classroom teachers through the American Stars of Teaching program. The Department’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is seeking nominations and information about teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies in the classroom, and making a difference in the lives of their students.
Eligibility: teachers across all grades and disciplines.
> www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html

Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year

These awards recognize exceptional classroom social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary, and at least half time in middle or junior high, and high school settings.
Maximum Award: $2,500.
Eligibility: Anyone may nominate. Self nominations will be accepted. NCSS Membership is required.
> www.socialstudies.org/awards/teaching/

Leaders in Learning Awards

Cable’s Leaders in Learning Awards honor individuals whose innovative practices or policies have made a major contribution to the education of children and youth.
Maximum Award: $3000.
Eligibility: educators, administrators, community leaders, and policymakers.
> www.leadersinlearningawards.org/

International Reading Association

Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award
The Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award honors an outstanding regular classroom elementary teacher of reading and language arts in grades K-6 (ages 5-12) dedicated to improving teaching and learning through reflective writing about his or her teaching and learning process. The US$1,000 award is supported by a grant from Regie Routman. All applicants must be Association members.
> www.reading.org/association/awards/teachers_routman.html

Distinguished School Administrators Award

Established in 1985, the $2,000 award honors a school administrator who has made worthy contributions to the operations of an exemplary school library media center and to advancing the role of the school library media center in the educational program. Nominations must be made by AASL personal members. To obtain an application for the 2006 Distinguished School Administrators Award, download the PDF file (51 k) or contact AASL office at 800-545-2433, ext. 1396.
> www.ala.org/

Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Turnaround Management Association is now accepting nominations for the 2006 Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards. The award honors teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in shaping the lives of children and teens through education.
Maximum Award: $5,000 cash and travel and lodging expenses to the TMA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, October 11-14, 2006.
Eligibility: primary or secondary school teachers employed by accredited schools for at least five years.
> www.turnaround.org/about/awards.asp

ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Outstanding Educator Award seeks to recognize a teacher under the age of 40 who demonstrates excellence in his or her profession. Criteria include a positive impact on students, creativity in the classroom, and leadership in his or her school or district.
Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility: teachers under age 40
> www.ascd.org

American Star in Teaching

The U.S. Department of Education again plans to honor classroom teachers by recognizing the 2005 American Stars of Teaching. The Department’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is seeking nominations and information about teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall. One teacher or team of teachers from each state will be recognized. To learn more or nominate a teacher to become an American Star of Teaching, please visit:
> www.teacherquality.us/TeacherToTeacher/AmericanStars.asp

SHOPA Kids In Need Foundation Offers Teacher Grants

The School, Home, & Office Products Association (www.shopa.org) Kids In Need Foundation offers Kids In Need Teacher Grants to provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Teacher Grants are funded by retail and education credit union sponsors.

Teacher Grant awards range from $100 to $500 each and are used to finance creative classroom projects. Typically, 200 to 300 grants are awarded each year.

All certified K-12 teachers in the U.S. are eligible. (Some sponsors have geographic restrictions.)

Winning projects are put in the form of lesson plans and are published as a Best Practices Guide. The guide is distributed to other teachers through Kids In Need Resource Centers and from the foundation office.

Retail sponsors and designated education credit unions make the grant applications available at their outlets during the back-to- school season. Applications from the sponsors are also available on the Kids In Need Foundation Web site.

Visit the Web site for complete program information, eligibility restrictions, application forms, and a list of sponsors.
> fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10004129/kidsinneed

National Teachers Hall of Fame Teachers Recognition Program

The mission of the National Teachers Hall of Fame is to recognize exemplary pre-K-12 teachers and to share their expertise and accomplishments as stellar examples of the teaching profession. One of the most important components of the NTHF is the annual Teacher Recognition Program, which selects five teachers for induction every year. Candidates may be current or retired teachers, must be (or have been) certified as a public or non-public school teacher, and must be available to attend induction ceremonies. Inductees receive a $1,000 scholarship for their school districts, a $1,000 stipend, $1,000 in materials, and a ring. Visit the NTHF Web site to download a nomination packet. For more information, contact:
The National Teachers Hall of Fame
2001 Induction Program
1320 C of E Drive
Emporia, KS 66801
> www.nthf.org

Golden Apple Foundation

The Golden Apple Foundation is a non-profit organization that publicly honors excellent pre-K through 12th grade teachers and provides them with financial backing to have a greater impact on their profession.
> www.goldenapple.org