Horace Mann Friend of Education Awards
This awards program is co-sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Corporation. The winners of the Horace Mann Friend of Education Awards in the categories of Teacher and Education Support Personnel will be the Missouri nominees for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence and the NEA-ESP of the year Award.
Nomination Deadline: Feb. 15 (Teacher nomination due Dec. 15)
Nomination Process: Nominations must be submitted to the Missouri NEA president using the provided form. The MNEA Board of Directors determines award winners. Awards, which are presented at the Spring MNEA Representative Assembly, may not be given in all categories every year.
For Teacher and ESP nominees, a statement must be included that answers the questions noted. All nominations should include:
- Category for which nominated.
- Name, home address, work address (where it applies), home phone, work phone (where it applies).
- Qualifications of the candidate.
- Description of actions meriting the award (can include samples of actual work).
- Nominator's name, address, phone, and local association.
- A maximum of three other endorsement letters can be attached.
For more information, contact Lauren Vinson (lauren.vinson@mnea.org, (573) 644-9606).
Horace Mann Friend of Education awards are presented annually in the following categories:
Journalism
A. Print: The nominee is employed in print journalism. The award recognition should be based around a story/stories involving an educational or Missouri NEA organizational issue. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should attempt to submit examples of the story/stories.
B. Radio: The nominee is employed in radio. The award recognition should be based around a story/stories involving an educational or Missouri NEA organizational issue. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should attempt to submit a detailed description of the nominee.
C. Television: The nominee is employed in television. The award recognition should be based around a story/stories involving an educational or Missouri NEA organizational issue. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should attempt to submit a detailed description of the nominee.
II. Legislation
The nominee is an elected federal or state official who has worked for the passage of important educational legislation. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should list in detail the education legislation accomplishments of the nominee.
III. Organizational
A. Corporate: The project sponsored by the corporation is devoted to an educational purpose or aspect. This could include direct help to students. Corporations assisting Missouri NEA either at the local or state level to obtain goals are also eligible. No Missouri NEA local affiliate is eligible for the award. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should describe in detail the actions of the organization which make it deserving of the award.
B. Civic: The project sponsored by the civic organization is devoted to an educational purpose or aspect. This could include direct help to students. Organizations assisting Missouri NEA either at the local or state level to obtain goals are also eligible. No Missouri NEA local affiliate is eligible for the award. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should describe in detail the actions of the organization which make it deserving of the award.
IV. Individual Contribution to Education
The nominee must not have been teaching at the time the action(s) being honored took place. The nominee must have through his/her actions advanced the cause of education in a district and/or directly helped Missouri NEA or an affiliate. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should describe in detail the action of the nominee which make him/her deserving of the award.
V. Teacher
Nominee must be an active classroom teacher, counselor, librarian, specialist, etc. and a Missouri NEA member during the year in which the award applies. The nominee should have exhibited outstanding performance as an educator and be a model for other educators to follow. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should provide a detailed summary of why the nominee is an outstanding educator.
The nominee must submit a statement that answers the following questions:
What do you consider to be the most successful innovation that you have introduced in your classroom or school?
What strategies and/or methods do you use to ensure that all students achieve at a high level?
How has your involvement in the National Education Association or the Missouri NEA contributed to your success as an educator?
How would you persuade a new colleague to join or become more active in the Association?
In what other ways do you serve as an advocate for public education?
The winner of this award shall be the Missouri nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.
VI. Education Support Professional
The nominee must be an active educational support professional and a Missouri NEA member during the year in which the award applies. The nominee should have exhibited outstanding performance at the worksite and be a model for other education support professional to follow. The affiliate and/or individual nominating should provide a detailed summary of why the nominee is an outstanding educational support professional.
The nominee must submit a statement that answers the following questions:
What do you consider to be the most successful innovation that you have introduced in your classroom or school?
What strategies and/or methods do you use to ensure that all students achieve at a high level? (What do you do to help students succeed?)
How has your involvement in the National Education Association or the Missouri NEA contributed to your success as an educator?
How would you persuade a new colleague to join or become more active in the Association?
In what other ways do you serve as an advocate for public education?
The winner of this award shall be the Missouri nominee for the NEA-ESP of the Year Award.