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TSTA/NEA Awards Programs

Many of our outstanding TSTA/NEA members, regional and local associations, communities, businesses, organizations, media representatives, and individuals who are friends of education deserve honors and awards.

For details and/or a nomination form for most awards, contact the Center for Executive and Governance (877-ASK-TSTA, ext. 1510). Nominations are to be submitted to the TSTA Center for Executive and Governance, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701. The exceptions are the School Bell Awards, Pride in Communications Awards, and Instructional Awards, which go to the TSTA Center for Public Affairs at the same address.

Instructional Awards
recognize local associations for activity and accomplishments, encourages all locals to enhance their level of activity and accomplishment, and incorporates certain strands of the NEA’s Priority Schools Initiative into local association planning. Go to Teaching & Learning for details.

School Bell Awards
recognize outstanding media coverage of education issues and events. Awards are presented at our annual state convention. If you have someone in the media you'd like to nominate, download our School Bell Awards instruction booklet and the nomination form, both in PDF format. The deadline for nominations each year is January 31. For more information, contact the Public Affairs Center.

Pride in Communications Awards
recognize outstanding local/regional association newsletters and web sites. Entries are judged on the extent to which the local and/or regional association programs are identified and explained. If you have someone you'd like to nominate, download the entry form (PDF format). Entries must be received by March 1 by TSTA Communications, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701.

Friend of Education Award
recognizes either (1) an individual or a major single accomplishment or career effort which has greatly impacted Texas education and which achieves some aspect of educational progress with which TSTA agrees; or (2) an organization/company outside the field of education which has made an outstanding contribution in the field of education. Any TSTA member, local association, region, or other recognized group (e.g., statewide or special committee or caucus) may make nominations. A letter or memorandum of nomination should be submitted, accompanied by a biographical statement providing details about the major single accomplishment or career effort supporting the worthiness of the individual or organization/company to receive this award. Nominations must be received no later than November 30.

Ronnie Ray ESP Advocate of the Year Award
recognizes a TSTA educational support professional whose activities reflect the contributions of ESP to public education and show outstanding accomplishments in one or more of the following areas: innovations to support the day-to-day educational process; professional achievements in his/her classification; involvement in the promotion of public education in the community; involvement in local, state, or national association; and enhancement of ESPs' image in his/her association, work site, or community. Nominations are accepted from regions and/or local affiliates.  For a nomination form and packet of information explaining the guidelines for the Award, please contact the Center for Executive and Governance by email  (carolm@tsta.org) or by calling 1-800-324-5355, ext. 1510.  The deadline for submitting nominations is 4:45 p.m. on September 30.  Nominations are to be submitted to the TSTA ESP Award Committee, c/o President Donna New Haschke, 316 West 12^th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.  Nominees must be a TSTA Educational Support Professional member for three (3) years as of January 15 whose activities reflect contributions to public education and show outstanding accomplishments.

Frank J. Tejeda Award for Public Service
recognizes an individual for service at the state or national political/legislative level on behalf of public school children or educational employees of Texas. Nominees must be elected or appointed officials who are not currently employed full-time by a school district. Nominations must be received no later than November 30. Call 877-ASK-TSTA, ext. 1510, to nominate someone for this award.

Professional, Human, and Civil Rights Awards
recognize Texas educators, local associations, regional associations and individuals who are friends of education for distinguished service and contributions in promoting and/or encouraging professional and human rights activities. Categories of awards are: Individual, Special, Mickey Leland Memorial, and the Willie Velasquez Memorial. Nominations must be received no later than February 1. Go to  http://www.tsta.org/teaching/current/PHCRAwardForm&Guidelines.pdf  for award guidelines and nomination form.

NEA Human and Civil Rights Award
TSTA also encourages regional and local affiliates or individuals to nominate an individual, organization and/or a region or local affiliate for an NEA Human and Civil Rights Award. For further information on the individual award categories and forms, you may view NEA’s website at www.nea.org/annualmeeting/hcrawards or write NEA Human and Civil Rights, 1201 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-3290 (202-822-7705).

Ermalee Boice Instructional Advocacy Award
recognizes, rewards and promotes teaching excellence. Through this award, teaching excellence, public education, and the NEA’s dedicated members are honored. A nomination packet must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 1. The recipient of this award will be submitted as TSTA’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

For details and/or a nomination form for most awards, contact the Center for Executive and Governance (877-ASK-TSTA, ext. 1510). Nominations are to be submitted to the TSTA Center for Executive and Governance, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701. The exceptions are the School Bell Awards, Pride in Communications Awards, and Instructional Awards, which go to the TSTA Center for Public Affairs at the same address.