ISEA student essay contests promote academic excellence in our Iowa public schools.
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequities in our public schools, health care systems and our communities. Fundamental to the health of our state and our country, we must look for ways to understand and address racial injustice and other inequities facing us. How would you help solve the issues, problems and circumstances of today? What do you see as the biggest barriers to reaching equality? What does it mean to be anti-racist?
Click here for the racism and inequity essay contest.
Looking for a way to spotlight a special person’s accomplishments while generating goodwill for your association? Consider taking part in one of ISEA’s major awards programs which recognize outstanding achievement by students, association members, school administrators and citizens.
You can download a nomination form here.
Education is a total community effort. The ISEA Friend of Education Award honors all citizens who give their time and energy, but pays special tribute to one individual or group who has made a significant contribution to education. The ISEA Friend of Education selection committee consisting of the ISEA president, vice president, and executive director shall review the nominations and select the recipient. The ISEA Executive Board approves the award. To fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, comparable information is needed for all candidates. Please provide information for the following:
Only citizens or groups not currently employed by an education agency can be considered for the ISEA Friend of Education Award. School employees are not eligible for consideration.
Nominees for the Friend of Education Award should be individuals or groups who have made a significant contribution to the support of programs and activities resulting in better educational opportunities for children.
A recent head and shoulders photograph of the nominee(s) should be included with the nomination.
The ISEA Friend of Education Award will be presented in the home community of the winning nominee by an ISEA officer at a time and place mutually agreeable to the ISEA and the local association. Public announcement of the Friend of Education selection will be made by the ISEA after notification and consultation with local association officials.
Nominations shall be submitted by affiliated local associations, UniServ units, or individual members of the association to the ISEA Communications Department no later than January 15.
Charles F. Martin Award for Association Leadership
The Charles F. Martin Award has been presented annually since 1972 as ISEA’s top honor to a member who has made a significant contribution to the teaching profession through association involvement. It’s named in honor of the late Charles F. Martin who served as ISEA president in 1945 and then as executive director from 1946 to 1961. Any ISEA member, local association, or UniServ unit may submit a nomination.
The selection committee consists of the ISEA president, vice president and executive director. Please provide information for the following:
Only ISEA members who have been involved in leadership and who have provided support of association activities for at least ten years are eligible.
Nominees must be currently employed as educators in Iowa. Current ISEA Executive Board members are not eligible during their terms of office unless retiring from the profession.
Deadline for nominations: January 15.
Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award
The ISEA Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award honors an individual or group for exemplary contributions toward the advancement of human and civil rights. It is named in honor of the late Paul Mann, a long-time association activist from Des Moines who championed civil and human rights causes. This program is designed to recognize contributions of individuals and/or groups, while encouraging others in their human and civil rights efforts, and foster development of programs for the advancement and protection of human and civil rights among ISEA members.
In order to help the Multicultural Committee fairly evaluate all nominations for this award, provide two references and a written summary with supporting artifacts to show the nominee demonstrated effectiveness in working in at least two of the following human relations areas:
Any association member, other educator, school district or group, or member of the general public is eligible to receive this award. Members of the ISEA Executive Board and Multicultural Committee are not eligible during their terms or appointments unless retiring from the profession. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers. Nominations may be considered for one of the NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards. Deadline for nominations: January 15.
The Design-a-Decal program is one of the ISEA’s most popular programs. Click here for program details and eligibility.
The TEAM award (Together, Educators and Administrators Make it Happen) honors a school administrator who has worked to create a collaborative, collegial working environment for all staff in a school building or district.
The ISEA president, vice president and executive director evaluate all nominations. Please provide typewritten information for the following:
Any school administrator, current or retired, is eligible to receive this award. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers. Deadline for nominations: January 15.
Education Support Professional (ESP) Award
The ESP Award was established to recognize contributions by a currently employed, active, ESP member for their efforts to advance the ISEA and ESP activities within the association in the following areas:
All nominations submitted to ISEA will be evaluated on the basis of criteria stated above. The selection committee consists of members of the ISEA ESP Committee. The ISEA president presents their recommendation to the ISEA Executive Board for consideration and approval. Because the ISEA ESP winner is automatically nominated for the NEA ESP Award, all five of the criteria must be met and clearly outlined.
The nominee must be a member of the ISEA. Members of the ISEA Executive Board and members of the Education Support Professionals Committee are not eligible during their terms or appointments, unless retiring from the profession. Nominations may be submitted by local associations or by individuals working through their local association officers.
Deadline for nominations: January 15.
Beacon Award for Local Association Excellence
This award is designed to honor local associations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and activity in the areas of communications, community involvement, advocacy, and programs.
Please provide printed summaries as well as supporting documents or artifacts as appropriate to demonstrate the local association’s activities in the following areas:
Any ISEA local association is eligible to be nominated. A special committee appointed by the ISEA president will review the nominations and select the recipient(s).
Deadline for nominations: January 15.
Newsletter Recognition Program
How does your newsletter measure up with others published in the state? Does it merit special recognition? There’s only one way to find out – enter the annual ISEA Newsletter Recognition Program! Click here for additional rules and entry form.
Education professionals change lives. They nurture. They inspire. They challenge. Now Iowans have the opportunity to say thank you. If there’s a professional educator who’s changed your life or the life of your child, why not nominate him or her for the Excellence in Education award? It’s a recognition program sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association to honor Iowa’s everyday heroes–the ones who demonstrate excellence every day for their students or schools. The winner receives a check for $1,000. Thank an education professional today! For more information, contact Jean Hessburg. Nomination period is January 15 through March 1.
Download a nomination form.
Sue Wiele Distinguished Service Award
The Sue Wiele Retired Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor given to an Iowa retired member in recognition of contributions to public education and community including political action, community organizing, mentoring and volunteering to help meet educator and community needs.
Download a nomination form here.
H.O. Maxey Community Spirit Award
H.O. Maxey was an educator and long-time leader in ISEA. He believed the association should give back to the communities we serve and, to demonstrate that, started food bank drives at the NEA Representative Assembly and ISEA Delegate Assembly. To continue H.O.’s efforts and recognize local associations that give back to their communities, the H.O. Maxey Community Spirit Award was established by the ISEA Executive Board in 2009.
The ISEA president and executive director review the nominations and select the H.O. Maxey Community Spirit Award winners. Awards are presented at the annual ISEA Summer Conference. Please provide printed summaries as well as supporting documents or exhibits that demonstrate the following:
Any local association is eligible to nominate itself or be nominated by another individual or association, using the ISEA Annual Awards Program Nomination Form cover sheet.
Deadline for nominations: June 1.
The Iowa State Education Association Community Outreach Grants help local members and/or local associations collaborate and create opportunities for community service or school projects. The outreach grants have turned out to be among the most popular ISEA programs and awards have been made in all parts of the state. Click here for a full set of guidelines and an application for 2020-21.
Kathy Williams Scholarship for BIPOC students
The ISEA is committed to recruiting, placing, and retaining profession-ready teachers and supporting efforts to address shortage and lack of diversity. It is important to focus on the entire teaching continuum, starting with potential educators and teacher candidates. Increasing the number of BIPOC educators requires intentional preparation, hiring, providing ongoing support and addressing college affordability. ISEAâs Kathy Williams Scholarship for BIPOC students helps address college affordability at the beginning of the program when a student needs it most. The scholarship will pay for BIPOC student membership in the NEA Aspiring Educators program. The scholarship will be available to a BIPOC student applicant once they are accepted into their respective college of education program. The deadline for application is January 15.
Scholarships for Future Teachers
The ISEA offers scholarships to help sons or daughters of association members become teachers. Applicants must be a member of the NEA Student Program and have completed 60 semester hours (or equivalent) or they must be considered a junior at the college or university in which they are enrolled. A statement of enrollment in the teacher education program is also required. In addition, applicants must indicate by their transcript and a written statement their intent to become a teacher. The deadline for application is January 15.
Roland and Dorothy Ross Scholarship for Secondary School Counselors
The Roland and Dorothy Ross Scholarship Award for ISEA members who are secondary school counselors is in memory of Roland and Dorothy Ross. It is administered by Wells Fargo Bank with assistance from the ISEA. This Trust makes funds available for qualified individuals to further their education by their attendance and participation in classes or programs. Members must have at least five years experience as a full-time school counselor. We are not accepting Applications for Ross Trust at this time. An email will be sent to all ISEA member school counselors when the application is available.