2025 Salute To Excellence In Education Gala Program
WHO WE ARE
The NEA Foundation is a national nonprofit and philanthropic organization based in Washington, DC. Founded by educators, our mission is to work in partnership with others to advance the absolute best in public education. We believe that the most innovative and effective education policies and practices emanate from educators engaged in authentic partnership with policymakers, students, parents, and others who are committed to justice, antiracism, equity, excellence, and opportunity. Through the transformative power of these partnerships, we believe we can improve both students’ and communities’ educational experiences and outcomes.
WHAT WE DO
The NEA Foundation achieves its mission by: investing in educators’ leadership, shared learning and collaboration; supporting partnerships whose actions prioritize antiracism and educational justice, equity, excellence, and opportunity; and sharing improvements in education policy and practice resulting from educators and their partners’ thought leadership.
OUR VISION
The NEA Foundation envisions public schools as places that foster both educators’ and students’ love of learning, enabling both to excel. A high-quality, well-resourced public education should be every child’s civil right. We recognize that the realization of this vision will require rigorous teaching and learning at every educational level; a national increase in equitable and just educational resources and practices; an appreciation of students’ and educators’ full identity, physical, social and emotional well-being; the eradication of racism, prejudice, and negative biases or mindsets; and both the public and policymakers’ openness to innovation and change.
Welcome to the 2025 NEA Foundation
Salute to Excellence in Education!
Dear Friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day, and Welcome to the 2025 NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala!
Tonight, we celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of public school educators from every part of the country, alongside extraordinary individuals and organizations whose contributions are transforming public education on a national scale. This evening is a testament to what can be achieved when love, excellence, equity, and opportunity are our highest priorities—and to what schools and communities can accomplish through a shared commitment to ensuring that every individual is empowered to reach their full potential.
The educators and allies we recognize tonight exemplify the very best in public education. Their stories underscore education’s power to open doors of opportunity and inspire hope in the hearts of students and communities alike. To the many individuals, organizations, and affiliates who have made tonight possible: your dedication to educators, passion for public education, and belief in The NEA Foundation’s mission are deeply appreciated. Our shared commitment to advancing the absolute best in public education is what energizes The NEA Foundation every day.
Still, we know the challenges facing public education are significant. Across the country, schools and educators are grappling with funding shortfalls, divisive rhetoric, and systemic inequities that too often restrict children’s opportunities to receive the education they deserve. In pursuit of the public good, it is our collective responsibility to safeguard and strengthen our nations’ public schools, championing every child’s right—regardless of background or zip code—to become a confident, informed, and engaged contributor to our nations’ success.
On this Valentine’s Day, let this celebration represent more than a moment of recognition—let it also represent a call to action. Let us continue to lavish love on and lift up the millions of educators who serve as the heart of public education, protecting and nurturing the foundation of our democracy. Enjoy the evening!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Sara A.
Sneed,
President and CEO
Nick
Archuleta,
Chair, Board of Directors
Congratulations to the 2025 Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence honorees
The NEA Foundation
In the last 10 years alone, The NEA Foundation has committed more than $5.2 million in grants benefiting approximately 80,000 educators and 1.3 million students across the country.
More than 500 public school educators have participated in the Global Learning Fellowship, the Foundation’s professional development program for educators centered on global competency. And the Foundation has recognized nearly 500 public school educators with a prestigious Award for Teaching Excellence, presented at one of the country’s largest celebrations of public education, the annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.
Scan this QR code to read the entire 2023-24 Year-in-Review.
Jacqueline Brown
Reva Lobatos
Maribel Vilchez
Matthew Hamilton
Joe Nappi
Silver
Illinois Education Association - NEA | Michigan Education Association | Pennsylvania Education Association Washington Education Association
bronze
Arizona Education Association | Arkansas Education Association | Colorado Education Association
Connecticut Education Association | Delaware State Education Association | Education Minnesota
Florida Education Association | Georgia Association of Educators | Hawaii State Teachers Association
Indiana State Teachers Association | Iowa State Education Association | Kentucky Education Association
Maine Education Association | Maryland State Education Association | Massachusetts Teachers Association
Mississippi Association of Educators | Missouri NEA | National Council of Urban Education Associations
Nevada State Education Association | North Carolina Association of Educators | Tennessee Education Association
Texas State Teachers Association | Union County Education Association | Virginia Education Association
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Special Thanks
The NEA Foundation Board of Directors
Nick Archuleta, Chair
Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, Vice Chair
Tia Dowdell, Secretary-Treasurer
Sara A. Sneed, President and CEO
Arthur G. Affleck
Aaro Jean Bell
Dáaiyah Bilal-Threats
Bret A. Conklin
Bertis Downs
Laura Engel, Ph.D.
Erica Webber Jones
Joanne Krell
Stuart Lucas
Brent McKim
Marc Moorghen
Roger Pollak
Becky Pringle
Jane Quinn, Ph.D.
Denise Sheehan
Marcy Singer-Gabella, Ph.D.
Derron Wallace, Ph.D.
Monica Washington
Jerry D. Weast, Ed.D.
Ross Wiener
Cicely Woodard, Ed.D.
As a proud partner of NEA Member Benefits for over 40 years, Bank of America is honored to support The NEA Foundation. We congratulate tonight’s honorees and all educators on their accomplishments.
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Program
PERFORMANCE
Svet & Jersey Girls
WELCOME
Susan L. Taylor
Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement &
Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine
REMARKS
Nick Archuleta
Chair, The NEA Foundation Board of Directors
THE NEA FOUNDATION STUDENT VOICES FOR EDUCATION AWARD
PRESENTER
Nick Archuleta
Chair, The NEA Foundation Board of Directors
RECIPIENT
Mikva Challenge
THE NEA FOUNDATION EQUITY
PARTNER AWARD
PRESENTER
Sara A. Sneed
President and CEO, The NEA Foundation
RECIPIENT
Black Teacher Project
PERFORMANCE
Jersey Girls
HORACE MANN AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PRESENTER
Kelly Ruwe
National Business Solutions Executive, Horace Mann
RECIPIENTS
Jacqueline Brown, Mississippi Association of Educators
Matthew Hamilton, Michigan Education Association
Reva Lobatos, Wyoming Education Association
Joe Nappi, New Jersey Education Association
Maribel Vilchez, Washington Education Association
Dinner Break
PERFORMANCE
Svet
travelers AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PRESENTER
Jan Turner
Vice President, Business Development & Account Management, Personal Insurance, Travelers
RECIPIENTS
2025 Affiliate Awardees
REMARKS
Sara A. Sneed
President and CEO, The NEA Foundation
The NEA FOUNDATION OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARD
PRESENTER
Sara A. Sneed
President and CEO, The NEA Foundation
RECIPIENT
Kent McGuire
NEA MEMBER BENEFITS AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PRESENTER
Leona Lindner
President and CEO, NEA Member Benefits
RECIPIENT
To be Announced
CLOSING
Sara A. Sneed
President and CEO, The NEA Foundation Tonight’s Music is Provided by DJ Thrill
2025 TRAVELERS AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Tina Ahlgren, Indiana State Teachers Association
Zachary Arenz, New York State United Teachers
Carissa Benton, Tennessee Education Association
Matthew Binfield, Federal Education Association
Angela Boisclair, National Education Association Rhode Island
Elaina Bouncer, North Carolina Association of Educators
Jerry Braun, Kansas National Education Association
Jacqueline Brown, Mississippi Association of Educators
Shauna Cihacek, Iowa State Education Association
Adam Clinch, Montana Federation of Public Employees
Christopher Coleman, Maine Education Association
Brian Collins, Wisconsin Education Association Council
Mary Kay Connerton, Maryland State Education Association
Ashlie Crosson, Pennsylvania State Education Association
Andrea Eisenberger, Virginia Education Association
Merri Gardunia, Alabama Education Association
Cory Hafer, Delaware State Education Association
Matthew Hamilton, Michigan Education Association
George Hawkins, South Dakota Education Association
Michael Houston, Education Minnesota
Karen Hudson, Arizona Education Association
Greg Kester, Missouri NEA
Jiashu Lei, Utah Education Association
Reva Lobatos, Wyoming Education Association
Mark Lowrie, Ohio Education Association
Traci Manuel, Oklahoma Education Association
Jessica May, Colorado Education Association
Hope Pualani McKeen, Hawaii State Teachers Association
Katrina Mundy, California Teachers Association
Joe Nappi, New Jersey Education Association
Cassie Owens Moore, The South Carolina Education Association
Wendy Peer, Arkansas Education Association
Laura Jeanne Penrod, Nevada State Education Association
Sheila Peterson, North Dakota United
Carla Powell, Louisiana Association of Educators
Kimberly Radostits, Illinois Education Association - NEA
Susan Rosato, Vermont - NEA
Claudia Singkornrat, Florida Education Association
Allison Slone, Kentucky Education Association
Katie Stewart, Georgia Association of Educators
Brenda Thompson, Nebraska State Education Association
Taniece Thompson-Smith, Texas State Teachers Association
Trent Van Leuven, Idaho Education Association
Mandy Vance, Oregon Education Association
Maribel Vilchez, Washington Education Association
Catherine Walker, NEA - Alaska
De’Shawn Washington, Massachusetts Teachers Association
Lori Woodruff, Connecticut Education Association
Travelers proudly supports The NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.
Travelers is honored to partner with The NEA Foundation to help support public education.
We thank our nation’s educators for their dedication to helping prepare students for the pathways to success and to lead a fulfilling life.
NEA MB proudly supports The NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.
NEA MB is honored to partner with The NEA Foundation. We thank our nation’s educators for
Supporting The NEA Foundation and the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala CONGRATULATIONS
to all the award nominees and recipients
2025 HORACE MANN AWARDEES Congratulations
Proud Partner of NEA Member Benefits
Since 2012
Brown Mississippi Association of Educators
New Jersey Education Association
Michigan Education Association
Washington Education Association
Jacqueline
Matthew Hamilton
Reva Lobatos Wyoming Education Association
Joe Nappi
Maribel Vilchez
Special Thanks
THE 2025 AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
NATIONAL SELECTION PANEL
Erica Webber Jones, Chair
Stephanie Ballard
Natalie Johnson-Berry
Ronald “Duff” Martin
Denise Sheehan
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#NEAFGALA
the NEA Foundation Student Voices for Education Award
MIKVA CHALLENGE
By empowering youth to become engaged and active citizens, Mikva Challenge is strengthening our democracy today. Founded in 1998 and currently serving more than 135,000 students annually, Mikva has developed an education model based on the principles that: 1) youth voice matters, 2) youth are experts on the issues that affect them; and 3) our communities and schools are stronger when youth leaders are involved in all aspects of civic life.
About this Award
To bring greater attention to the role students can and do play in advocating for improved public education, The NEA Foundation created the Student Voices for Education Award in 2023. This award recognizes an individual student or group of students or an organization that centers student voice that is providing exemplary leadership in elevating student voices in a school community or communities, building student movements to address educational concerns, or advancing efforts to powerfully advocate on behalf of students in other forums.
the NEA Foundation Equity Partner Award
Black Teacher Project
Black Teacher Project’s vision is that every student will benefit from the diversity, excellence, and leadership of an empowered Black teaching force. Black Teacher Project (BTP) is dedicated to providing culturally relevant and affirming professional development in Black racial affinity that supports the professional, financial, physical, and mental thriving of Black teachers so that they can lead for change that results in more equitable and liberating systems and experiences for themselves and the students and families they serve.
About this Award
The NEA Foundation believes that a well-resourced and supported public education should be every child’s civil right and that justice and equity are fostered when institutions grow in their understanding of implicit and institutional bias and how these wrongs can influence policy, educational practice, and children’s educational experiences and outcomes. The Equity Partner Award honors an individual or organization that shares these values and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to addressing equity and opportunity gaps in public education.
The NEA Foundation Outstanding Service to Public Education Award
Kent McGuire
The NEA Foundation is privileged to honor Kent McGuire with the 2025 Outstanding Service to Public Education Award. Mr. McGuire, the Program Director of Education at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, is being recognized for his unwavering commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for all. As a distinguished educator, scholar, and leader, he has consistently championed innovation and equity, paving the way for transformative change.
About This Award
The Outstanding Service to Public Education Award pays tribute to those who have significantly increased understanding of and support for public education or have otherwise dedicated themselves to serving educators and students. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Linda Darling-Hammond, the Algebra Project, Sesame Street Workshop, President William J. Clinton, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the American Indian College Fund, and Mister (Fred) Rogers.
On behalf of the 1.8 million members of the AFT, we are proud to support The NEA Foundation and its mission to work in partnership with others to promote the absolute best in public education.
Congratulations to all of the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Education honorees, including:
• Kent McGuire, education program director for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, for the Outstanding Service Award.
• Black Teacher Project for the Equity Partner Award.
• Mikva Challenge for the Student Voices Award.
AFT President Randi Weingarten, the AFT and the AFT Innovation Fund wish to extend special congratulations to our friend Kent McGuire for his distinguished career and contributions to strengthening public education.
We stand with you as champions of great schools and colleges that fulfill the promise of public education, good jobs that support a middle-class life, affordable healthcare for all, the fight against discrimination and hate, and the defense of democracy.
