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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Purpose:
To recognize, reward, and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. It also honors public education and the dedicated members of the VEA.
Awards:
VEA will select one educator from among all Virginia nominees. The winner will receive the VEA Award for Teaching Excellence which includes $750 and recognition at the VEA Delegate Assembly in April 2026. That person will also be Virginia’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.
National nominees receive expenses-paid travel to The NEA Foundation’s Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, usually held in Washington, DC. There five national finalists receive The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, which includes a $10,000 cash award each. The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence recipient is selected from among the five finalists and receives $25,000 and a personalized commemorative gift.
Eligibility:
All current members of a VEA local affiliate, including teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff, are eligible.
The VEA, like NEA, does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. NEA Foundation encourages NEA state leaders to consider nominees who reflect the diversity among NEA members.
Nominations:
VEA will submit one nomination to the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence from among all nominations received for the VEA Award for Teaching Excellence. Should a nominee's VEA membership be discontinued between the date of their nomination and the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, hosted by the NEA Foundation, the nomination must be rescinded.The state affiliate cannot nominate the same educator more than once.
Deadline:
Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Notification:
The VEA will notify all applicants and their local presidents of their status by February 16, 2026.
SELECTION:
Local Level
To be considered by the State Selection Committee, a nomination packet must include a letter of endorsement from the nominee’s local Association.
State Level
The VEA Instruction and Professional Development Committee will select one winner from the nominees. A state affiliate cannot nominate the same educator more than once for the NEA Foundation/Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence.
National Level
The national selection panel chooses the five recipients of The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence from among the affiliate awardees. The President and CEO of the NEA Foundation and the NEA President appoint these panelists. The Horace Mann awardees will be invited for personal interviews with the national selection panel in August 2026, and based on these interviews, the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence recipient will be chosen.
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CRITERIA
Nominations will be judged according to the five criteria listed below. Panelists rate nominees on each criterion using the point value indicated.
1. Professional Practice -- The nominee:
• demonstrates instructional expertise, creativity, and innovation in providing rich learning opportunities for students,
• uses a variety of strategies to effectively address students’ different learning styles and needs, and
• 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,
• is an active member of other professional organizations and engages in activities that advance the profession and public education, and
• is a strong, effective spokesperson for students, educators and the profession.
(15 points)
3. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice: -- The nominee:
• works to provide a safe, supportive learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of differences, and
• recognizes and explicitly addresses the full array of values, cultures, and experiences represented in our diverse, modern society through interactions with students.
(10 points)
4. Family and Community Engagement -- The nominee:
• actively engages families to support student learning and success, and
• is intentional, engaging the community to enhance student learning and success.
(5 points)
5. Leadership In Professional Development -- The nominee:
• continually engages in experiences to improve his or her practice and to gain new skills and knowledge,
• shares this new learning with colleagues in effective ways, and
• participates in and is committed to professional development and has a visible impact on the institution, students, and community.
(5 points)
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A special link to resume the form will be sent to your email address.
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