Award for Teaching Excellence Grant

Award for Teaching Excellence Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Maine Education Association
Amount: US $1,000
Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Summary

The Award for Teaching Excellence, presented by the Maine Education Association, recognizes outstanding educators who demonstrate exceptional teaching skills, advocacy, and community engagement. Recipients receive a $1,000 award and the chance to represent Maine at a national gala. Five winners will receive $10,000 each, with one selected for the prestigious NEA Member Benefits Award, receiving $25,000. This award celebrates diverse educators committed to excellence and equity in education.

Overview

The Maine Education Association is a diverse group of professional educators, standing together to ensure that our voices, values, and priorities are heard and respected and that every Maine student has the opportunity for an outstanding education. MEA advocates for better pay, benefits, and working conditions for members. We stand up for, support, and empower members in and out of the classroom. And MEA works to ensure equity, prevent discrimination and prejudice, and advance great public schools for all educators and students across the state. MEA offers awards and grants to members to both honor and support colleagues and your work. The Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes, rewards, and promotes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. The MEA Award winner will receive $1,000 and will represent Maine at the NEA Foundation’s gala event in Washington, DC (February 2026). Five of the awardees will be selected for the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence and receive $10,000 each plus expenses-paid travel for themselves and a guest. The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence recipient, selected from the five, will receive $25,000 which will be announced at the gala’s finale. Nominations will be judged according to the criteria listed below. The nomination letter from the nominator must specifically address these criteria: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Must be an MEA/NEA member (including teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff).Educators of all cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, heritages and races, gender and sexual orientations, abilities, and ideas are valued and encouraged to participate. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.