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Curtis Martin

"What a great profession this is!" says NFL Teacher of the Year Charlotte Gagliardi. Twelve-time Pro Bowl participant Will Shields, a former offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs and a former student of hers, is glad she thinks so.

"I'm a member of the NFL today because of God-given talents," says Will. "However, I'm a father today and a husband today and the best person I can be today because of Ms. G."

Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher.

Nominate a Teacher

Want to take teacher appreciation to the next level? Nominate an excellent educator you know for a teaching award. Many awards do not allow just anyone to do the nominating, but to help all you Teacher Boosters out there say "Thanks" to teachers, we've compiled a list of awards for which parents, students, and others can nominate teachers.

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

Art Teacher Awards

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

Foreign Language Teacher Awards

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: February 1, 2008

General Teacher Awards

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: Early April 2008
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: Early March of every year
National Middle School Association
The NMSA has a list of awards that are awarded to outstanding middle grade educators.
Deadline: Various
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 2, 2008
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
Wal-Mart & Sam's Club Teacher of the Year Program

Anyone can nominate a teacher that has made an impact in their life with the Wal-Mart & Sam's Club Teacher of the Year program. The awards encompass three selection processes: local, state, and national. All awards are in the form of grants for the school:
- Local teachers receive gifts and a $1000 grant to their school toward their department, subject area, or classroom.
- State winners receive gifts and a $10,000 grant to their school toward their department, subject area, or classroom.
- The national winner receives gifts and a $25,000 grant to their school toward their department, subject area, or classroom.
Phi Delta Kappa, Wal-Mart, Inc.'s partner in education, adjudicates the state and national selections
Deadline: October 1- November 1 of every  year

Math, Science, and Technology Teacher Awards

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 2008
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.
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 2008

Regional Awards

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 15th 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, 2007
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 2007
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: April 2008

Social Studies Teacher Awards

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: March 2008
National History Day’s History Channel Award for an Outstanding Contribution to History Education
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.
Deadline: May 20th of every year
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 1st of every year

Special Education Awards

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: Rolling
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