Each spring, the Foundation invites every NEA state, federal, and direct affiliate to nominate one outstanding educator for the Awards for Teaching Excellence.  The following 31 educators were nominated by their affiliate and will be recognized as affiliate awardees at the 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.

Alabama Education Association

Brenda Autry
Wilcox Central High School
Subject(s) Taught: Business, Marketing, and Administration
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Arizona Education Association

Rae Ann Rumery
Holiday Day Park Elementary
Subject(s) Taught: Special Education
Grade(s) Taught: Pre-Kindergarten to 8th

Delaware State Education Association

Mary E. Pinkston
Brandywine High School
Subject(s) Taught: Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Federal Education Association

Sally Jean Jones
Wiesbaden Middle School
Subject(s) Taught: English
Grade(s) Taught: 8th

Florida Education Association

Joseph Underwood
Miami Senior High School
Subject(s) Taught: Visual Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th Grade

Hawaii State Teachers Association

Colleen Pasco
Kohala High School
Subject(s) Taught: Language Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 11th to 12th

Iowa State Education Association

Matt Heston
Knoxville Community High School
Subject(s) Taught: Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Illinois Education Association-NEA

Brian Sievers
Thornridge High School
Subject(s) Taught: Physics
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Indiana State Teachers Association

Robert Gustas
Hal E. Clark Middle School
Subject(s) Taught: Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 8th

Kansas National Education Association

Jeline Harclerode
Emporia Middle School
Subject(s) Taught: All
Grade(s) Taught: 8th

Massachusetts Teachers Association

Carol Margolis
Dedham High School
Subject(s) Taught: Language Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 10th to 12th

Maine Education Association

Sarah Sutter
Wiscasset High School
Subject(s) Taught: Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Education Minnesota

Luke Merchlewitz
Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School
Subject(s) Taught:  All Subjects
Grade(s) Taught: 2nd

Missouri NEA

Kathy Steinhoff
Jefferson Junior High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 8th to 9th

Montana Education Association – Montana Teachers Association

Anne Keith
Chief Joseph Middle School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 8th

North Carolina Association of Educators

Teresa McNeill
Walter Hines Page High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics Teacher, ESL Program Coordinator
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

North Dakota Education Association

Drue G. Haarsager
Cheney Middle School
Subject(s) Taught:  Social Studies
Grade(s) Taught: 7th to 8th

Nebraska State Education Association

Carolyn Campbell
Bayard Public Schools
Subject(s) Taught:  Business, Mathematics, Technology
Grade(s) Taught: 8th to 12th; College/University

New Jersey Education Association

Maryann Woods-Murphy
Northern Highlands Regional High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Spanish
Grade(s) Taught: 11th to 12th

NEA-New Mexico

Sarah Johnston
Mountain View Middle School
Subject(s) Taught:  Language Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 7th to 8th

New York State United Teachers

Debra Calvino
Valley Central High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics, Special Education
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Pennsylvania State Education Association

Darnell Weathersby
Harrisburg High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics,
Grade(s) Taught: 9th

South Dakota Education Association

Tom Mead
Spearfish Middle School
Subject(s) Taught:  Language Arts, Mathematics, Science,
Grade(s) Taught: 7th to 8th

Tennessee Education Association

Kathleen Benedict
The Learn Center
Subject(s) Taught:  Language Arts, Social Studies,
Grade(s) Taught: 10th to 12th

Texas State Teachers Association

David Bolster
Harris Middle School
Subject(s) Taught:  Science
Grade(s) Taught: 7th

Utah Education Association

Karen Gorringe
Bluffdale Elementary
Subject(s) Taught:  All
Grade(s) Taught: 6th

Virginia Education Association

Donald Wilms
Manchester High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Language Arts
Grade(s) Taught: 11th to 12th

Vermont-NEA

Terri Vest
Twinfield Union School
Subject(s) Taught:  Language Arts, Social Studies
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Washington Education Association

Brian Berg
Sequim High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Mathematics
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Wisconsin Education Association Council

Veronica Ellingson
Hudson High School
Subject(s) Taught:  Physics
Grade(s) Taught: 9th to 12th

Wyoming Education Association

Craig Williams
Carpenter Elementary
Instructional Facilitator
Grade(s) Taught: Elementary