The NEA Foundation

The NEA Foundation presented its inaugural Award for Philanthropy in Public Education to Verizon Communications and its 2009 Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education to Sesame Workshop at its annual Salute to Excellence in Education awards gala held on February 6 at the National Museum Building in Washington, DC. Known as the Academy Awards for public education, the Foundation’s gala attracted more than 900 leaders from public education, business, philanthropy and the government.

lllinois’ Effingham High School teacher Joseph Fatheree, second from left, received the 2009 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence at the NEA Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education Gala. Pictured, from left, are: ATE finalists Marlene Srock, Richard Ognibene, Michael Flynn; NEA Member Benefits President and CEO Gary Phoebus; NEA Foundation President and CEO Harriet Sanford; ATE recipients Joseph Fatheree and Stephanie Rossi.

NEA Foundation Board of Directors Chair Lauri Fitz-Pegado (Partner, The Livingston Group), NEA Foundation President and CEO Harriet Sanford, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, Verizon Communications President Ivan Seidenberg, and NEA Executive Director John Wilson celebrated public educators at the NEA Foundation’s 2009 Salute to Excellence in Education annual awards gala on Feb. 6 Washington, DC. Seidenberg accepted the Foundation’s inaugural Award for Philanthropy in Public Education on behalf of Verizon Communications.

Gary Phoebus, President and CEO of NEA Member Benefits, Carol-Lynn Parente, Executive Producer of Sesame Street, “Walk Around” Cookie Monster, Harriet Sanford, NEA Foundation President and CEO, and Dennis Van Roekel, NEA President (shown left to right) celebrated the 2009 Salute to Excellence in Education annual awards gala on Feb. 6 Washington, DC. Parente accepted the NEA Foundation’s prestigious Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education on behalf of Sesame Workshop.

Pearson Foundation President and CEO Mark Nieker (and NEA Foundation 40th Anniversary Ambassador) introduced the first finalist for the NEA Foundation’s Awards for Teaching Excellence at the organization’s annual awards gala held at the National Museum Building in Washington, DC on Feb. 6. Each of the ATE finalists was honored with a video created by his or her school’s students with training and technical support from the Pearson Foundation. The two foundations have formed a partnership to strengthen public education by incorporating 21st century learning skills into teaching and learning. See the student videos below that were premiered at the NEA Foundation’s awards gala.

Cory Hunter, a former member of the renowned Boys Choir of Harlem, graduate of the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York, Yale Divinity School student, and NEA Foundation 40th Anniversary Ambassador, performed inspirational music at the gala.

Bob McGrath, the famous music teacher on PBS’ Sesame Street series, sang a song and served as the emcee of The NEA Foundation’s 1 Gala. Themed a “Symphony of Success,” this year’s gala paid special tribute to music education, with performances from national award-winning student musicians and vocalists. At the gala, the Foundation, in partnership with MENC: the National Association of Music Education, announced a series of small grants to support music education in public middle and high schools.

A national award-winning show choir with 55-plus student musicians, vocalists, and dancers, Bob McGrath, Sesame Street’s much loved “Bob the Music Teacher,” and “Walk-Around” Elmo and Cookie Monster entertained a packed house at the NEA Foundation’s gala.

As recipients of The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, the following five educators received a personal gift of $10,000 from the Horace Mann Companies. In addition, Joseph Fatheree received The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and an additional $25,000. All nominees were honored at the 2009 gala.

Click the links below to view student produced videos spotlighting the 2009 ATE finalists.

The following outstanding educators were nominated by NEA state and direct affiliates for the 2009 Awards for Teaching Excellence. All nominees were recognized at the Gala.

Click on the icons below for more information on NEA Member Benefits, the Horace Mann Companies, our partners in The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.