ISTA Hoosier Educator of the Year Award 2026
Ends on
Eligible: ISTA members
Supported by Horace Mann.
Guidelines are based on the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.
This award recognizes an ISTA member who exemplifies professional practice, advocacy for the profession, attention to diversity, community engagement and leadership in professional development.
Nominations must be made by an ISTA member based on the following criteria.
Professional Practice
- Advocacy for the Profession
- Attention to Diversity
- Community Engagement
- Leadership in Professional Development
Please carefully read the detailed nomination guidelines below to ensure nominee meets criteria and applicant prepares and supplies all necessary information.
Horace Mann Educators Corporation generously recognizes the Hoosier Educator of the Year with a monetary award. The Hoosier honoree is sent to the NEA Foundation as Indiana’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. State affiliate nominees with technology leadership experience will be considered for a separate and distinct honor, the AOL@School NEA Foundation Award for Technology Leadership.
Nomination deadline is March 1 with the award presentation to be scheduled at an ISTA event, determined by the ISTA President.
Questions? Contact Angela Miller.
HOOSIER EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD GUIDELINES
BASED UPON NEA FOUNDATION AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PURPOSE
This recognizes an ISTA member who exemplifies professional practice, advocacy for the profession, attention to diversity, community engagement, and leadership in professional development.
Nominations must be made by an ISTA member and based on the following criteria:
CRITERIA
Applications for the award are judged according to five criteria. Selection committee members rate applicants on each criterion using the point value indicated below.
1. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
The nominee demonstrates instructional expertise, creativity, and innovation. The nominee uses a variety of pedagogical techniques and effectively addresses students' different learning styles and needs. The nominee is an instructional leader at the local, state, and/or national level. (15 points)
2. ADVOCACY FOR THE PROFESSION
The nominee is a current, active member of the local, state, and/or national education association, and has assumed leadership roles at one or more of these levels. The nominee is an active member of other professional organizations and engages in activities that advance the profession and public education. The nominee speaks out on behalf of public education, educators, and students. (15 points)
3. ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY
The nominee works to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of differences. The nominee recognizes and explicitly addresses the full array of values, cultures, and experiences represented in our diverse modern society, both through curriculum and instruction and in other interactions with students. (10 points)
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The nominee frequently interacts with parents and other community members on substantive education issues. The nominee brings community resources to the classroom and conducts service learning projects with his or her students in the community. (5 points)
5. LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The nominee continually engages in experiences to improve his or her practice and to gain new skills and knowledge. The nominee shares this new learning with colleagues in a variety of venues. The nominee's participation in and commitment to professional development has a visible impact on his or her institution, students, and community. (5 points)
CONTENTS OF NOMINATION
Nomination packages must include all of the items listed below. Formatting instructions are noted for each section where applicable.
A. All requested contact information
B. Applicant's Statement
C. Attachments: Nomination Letter, Resume and up to 3 Endorsement Letters
APPLICANT'S STATEMENT
3400 words maximum.
The applicant’s statement must be written by the applicant, as a first-person narrative. The statement includes specific examples to illustrate all five of the award criteria. The questions below do not need to be copied verbatim in the text. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to include headings or keywords related to the criteria to aid the selection committee in their reading.
1. What are the most successful innovations that you have introduced in your classroom or school? What strategies or methods do you use to ensure that all students achieve at a high level? How do you act as an instructional leader?
2. How has your involvement in the National Education Association or Indiana State Teachers Association 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 the profession and for public education?
3. What community resources do you bring to the classroom to enhance your lessons and student achievement? What service learning projects have you conducted with your students to benefit the community?
4. What experiences or activities have been most beneficial to your professional knowledge, skills, and practice? How have you contributed to the professional development of your colleagues? How has your professional growth made a difference for your school or university, your students, and your community? Include examples.
5. How do you address issues of diversity in your curriculum and instruction and in other interactions with students? What is the result of such efforts? How does your approach to diversity affect your work?
6. If you have not already done so, tell a story about how your approach to teaching made a difference for a student or a group of students.
7. What advice would you give to someone entering the profession on how to attain teaching excellence?
ATTACHMENTS
1. NOMINATION LETTER
Three pages maximum, double spaced, 12-point or larger type.
2. RESUME
Two pages maximum.
The resume provides a brief, factual overview of the applicant’s career, including positions held, degrees attained, honors received, etc. The resume may also describe personal achievements or activities that are not noted elsewhere.
3. ENDORSEMENT LETTERS
Up to three letters, two pages maximum each, double-spacing preferred. Letters must be submitted with all other materials.
Letters of endorsement are written by the applicant’s local affiliate president, colleagues, current or former students, parents, or community members. Letters should be signed, if possible, and the salutation should address the ISTA Professional Practices and Standards Committee or the national selection panel for The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.
Selection
The Hoosier Educator of the Year will be recognized at an ISTA event.