Awards

NCTE Affiliate Awards

Affiliate Excellence Award

Established in 1997, this award is given by the NCTE Committee on Affiliates to affiliates that meet standards of excellence to which all affiliates should aspire.
Deadline: July 15

Student Affiliate Excellence Award

Established in 2013, this award is given by the NCTE Committee on Affiliates to establish high standards of performance for student affiliates and to honor those affiliates which meet these standards. Qualifications for the award represent standards of excellence to which all student affiliates should aspire.
Deadline: June 30

Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award

Established in 1996 for top awards given by the NCTE Committee on Affiliates to affiliate journals that are evaluated by a panel of judges as best meeting the award criteria.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

Affiliate Excellence in Integrated Media Award

Established in 2026 to recognize NCTE state affiliates that demonstrate exceptional skill in using a multiplatform approach—including, but not limited to, social media, blogs, newsletters, and websites—to engage members, amplify NCTE’s mission, and provide high-quality professional resources.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

Affiliate Excellence in Programming Award

Established in 2026 to recognize unique affiliate programming that aims to include a range of teachers across various spaces in their career trajectory and/or students they serve.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

Affiliate Creative Pathways Award

Established in 2026, this award honors affiliates that intentionally recruit and support educators who are new to the teaching profession—including recently graduated education majors and professionals transitioning from other careers. It recognizes affiliates that go beyond traditional recruitment to create meaningful, sustained support that aligns with NCTE’s mission, values, and position statements.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

Kent D. Williamson Affiliate Membership Award

Established in 1987, this award is given by the NCTE Committee on Affiliates to affiliates with the highest percentage of membership increase.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

NCTE Fund Teachers for the Dream Affiliate Award

The NCTE Fund invites affiliates to implement initiatives aimed at recruiting English language arts teachers of color and will offer grants to those selected affiliates.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

NCTE Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award

Established in 1997 by NCTE and SLATE—Support for the Learning and Teaching of English—this award is given by state, regional, and provincial affiliates who choose to participate to honor individuals, groups, or institutions that merit recognition for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom.
Deadline: July 15 (for the 2026 awards)

NCTE National Intellectual Freedom Award

Established in 1997 by NCTE and SLATE—Support for the Learning and Teaching of English—this award is given to individuals, groups, or institutions that merit recognition for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom. A subcommittee of the NCTE Committee Against Censorship selects the recipient(s).
Deadline: June 15

NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award

This award was established in 2001 by the Secondary Section to recognize and celebrate high school classroom teachers.
Deadline: July 1