From the dozens of educators that NEA affiliates select, an expert panel chooses five to receive the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence.
Horace Mann Awardees receive $10,000, and special recognition at the NEA Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education Gala. The panel selects one of these finalists to receive the NEA Member Benefits award and $25,000 at the gala.
2020 Awardees
Amy Galloway
NEA - Alaska
A high school social studies educator at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Casey Keyser
Maryland State Education Association
Third grade educator at Butterfly Ridge Elementary School in Frederick, Maryland
Leila Kubesch
Ohio Education Association
English as a second language and Spanish educator at Norwood Middle School in Norwood, Ohio
Sara Medalen
North Dakota United
Elementary reading and math interventionist at Sunnyside Elementary School in Minot, North Dakota
Takeru Nagayoshi
Massachusetts Teachers Association
High school English educator at New Bedford High School in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Nominate an Educator
The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence present an annual opportunity for NEA state leaders to collectively and publicly recognize and reward exemplary educators for their outstanding instruction and advocacy to advance the profession. Each NEA direct affiliate may nominate an educator to receive an Award for Teaching Excellence between September and May. Visit our Nominate an Educator page for more information and to submit a nomination.
