Awards

To recognize an MEA member or governance affiliate which has demonstrated a strong commitment to political action for public education issues.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

A person or governance affiliate who has had a history of involvement in political action on public education issues, including but not limited to:

1. work in local, state or national elections
2. work in local, state or national referendum issues
3. lobbying
4. active in a political structure such as political party, citizens groups
5. election to office
6. local activities with an impact on government

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors (In any given year, this award may not be presented.) Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President.

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Anne Sheehan Political Action Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To honor an individual in the fields of the arts and the humanities for their commitment to education and their work and advocacy for human and civil rights and social justice.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

The recipient will be an individual who has demonstrated their commitment to public education and has made significant contributions in the fields of the arts and/or the humanities that have promoted human and civil rights and social justice.

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the Ashley Bryan Arts and Humanities Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2026

There are three (3) required forms: 

• Nomination Form (to be completed by the nominator) 
• Nominee Form (to be completed by the nominee); 
• Letter of Endorsement Form 

Each required form above has a unique hyperlink. The Nomination Form should be completed by the nominator, the nominee form should be completed by the nominee and the recommender must individually submit their endorsement electronically using the Letter of Endorsement Form. Participants should direct their recommenders to the link above.   

The form is limited in capacity to check for spelling and grammatical errors and does not allow you to save and then edit or complete at a later date. You are strongly encouraged to print a copy of the sample forms first and complete them separately in a word document. Once complete, the responses should be copied and pasted into the electronic form and submitted. 

PURPOSE: 

To recognize, reward, and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession.

MEA believes that all students deserve a quality education and that teaching is the single most important component of quality education. It is appropriate, therefore, that MEA recognize one of its members for teaching excellence. In selecting and celebrating a state winner of this award each year, we honor teaching excellence, public education, and our dedicated members.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: 

Must be an MEA/NEA member (including teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff). Additionally, educators of all cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, heritages and races, gender and sexual orientations, abilities, and ideas are valued and encouraged to participate. 

Criteria: Nominations will be judged according to the criteria listed below. The nomination letter from the nominator must specifically address these criteria. 

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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 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. 

PROCEDURE: 

The nomination letter and nomination package must be received by the MEA President by 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2026. Each nomination letter must be signed by an MEA member. It is the responsibility of the person making the nomination to contact the nominee and ascertain his/her willingness to receive the nomination and award and prepare the contents of the nomination. If chosen, the recipient will need to submit their application electronically along with a digital photo. 

FINAL SELECTION: 

Whenever the number of award nominations exceeds five, a screening committee shall be established to review the nomination packages. The committee, appointed by the President, shall include a past recipient, a member not in a leadership position, a Board of Directors member, and the MEA President or designee. The names of five nominees will be sent to the Board of Directors for final selection. 

Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.) 

PRESENTATION: 

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Award for Teaching Excellence will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.  The MEA Award winner will receive $1,000 and will represent Maine at the NEA Foundation’s gala event in Washington, DC (February 2027). Five of the awardees will be selected for the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence and receive $10,000 each plus expenses-paid travel for themselves and a guest. The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence recipient, selected from the five, will receive $25,000 which will be announced at the gala’s finale. 

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO 

Each nominee must submit a high-resolution, digital headshot taken with a neutral, solid background, that will be used for promotional purposes only. Selfies are not recommended. The photo should be at least 72 pixels per inch and 400KB. The photo must be submitted as a JPEG file and attached as a separate file. Photos must be submitted via email to govforms@maineea.org by 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2026. 

To recognize a for profit, non-profit, or not-for-profit company/corporation which has made a significant contribution to public education in Maine.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

Any for profit, non-profit, or not-for-profit company/corporation which shows examples of outstanding service including, but not limited to:

1. in school volunteer time
2. financial support for special projects
3. donation of materials or equipment to schools

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Corporate Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To recognize an individual currently holding an elected or appointed public position and currently making a significant contribution to public education.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

Any resident of Maine who currently holds an elected or appointed public position may be nominated by an MEA member. An example of a significant contribution includes advocacy for education at the local, state, or national levels.

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Friend of Education Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To recognize an individual or group that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the local school(s) and/or to the children of a community.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

Must be a resident of Maine or an MEA member. Examples of outstanding service include, but are not limited to:

1. organizing local parents and concerned citizens on behalf of an educational issue
2. volunteer service to schools
3. work with youth organizations

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Golden Apple Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To recognize an MEA member who has demonstrated outstanding courage in defending academic freedom or in upholding the right of educators to adhere to the principles of their profession free from harassment and coercion. Also, to recognize a member who has faced a difficult period and risked personal welfare because of professional commitment.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

Outstanding courage and dedication to the principles of the profession without regard to personal welfare.

PROCEDURE:

The nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Honor Medal will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To recognize individual members, local affiliates, individual students, or student organizations who have demonstrated outstanding dedication in promoting human and civil rights for students and citizens of the State of Maine.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

Any individual or group who meets one or more of the following criteria:

1. Promote appreciation for diversity with regard to socioeconomic status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin, or citizenship status.
2. Work to eliminate discriminatory or abusive behavior toward groups and individuals.
3. Help schools develop programs that encourage tolerance and teach students to refrain from name calling, stereotyping, and fighting.
4. Display creativity, determination, and perseverance in achieving human and civil rights goals.
5. Establish an ongoing program or institution for the improvement of human relations and civil rights.

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Human and Civil Rights Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2026

There are five (5) required forms: 

• Nomination Form (to be completed by the nominator) 
• Nominee Form (to be completed by the nominee); 
• Letter of Recommendation Form (to be completed by 3 recommenders, 1 each from an individual in the nominee’s: school/worksite, local/state affiliate, and community).

Each required form above has a unique hyperlink. The Nomination Form should be completed by the nominator, the nominee form should be completed by the nominee and each recommender must individually submit their recommendation electronically using the Letter of Recommendation Form. Participants should direct their recommenders to the link above.   

The form is limited in capacity to check for spelling and grammatical errors and does not allow you to save and then edit or complete at a later date. You are strongly encouraged to print a copy of the sample forms first and complete them separately in a word document. Once complete, the responses should be copied and pasted into the electronic form and submitted. 

PURPOSE: To emphasize outstanding accomplishments and reflect the contributions of Education Support Professionals to public education.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

The individual must have been an MEA/NEA member for three years as of December 31 of the award year. The individual must also be an MEA Education Support Professional (ESP) member who shows outstanding accomplishments. Individuals will be judged according to the criteria listed on the nomination form.

PROCEDURE:

The nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member. It is the responsibility of the person making the nomination to contact the nominee and ascertain his/her willingness to accept the nomination and award and prepare the contents of the nomination.

FINAL SELECTION:

Whenever the number of award nominations exceeds five, a screening committee shall be established to review the nominations. The committee, appointed by the MEA President, shall include a past recipient, a member not in a leadership position, a Board of Directors member, and the MEA President or designee. The names of five nominees will be sent to the Board of Directors for final selection. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the Joan McGovern ESP Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly. The winner will be nominated for the NEA ESP Award the following academic year and will represent Maine at the NEA ESP Conference. Each year, one nominee receives the NEA ESP of the Year Award, which includes $10,000 cash prize from NEA Member Benefits. The winner will also be invited to address that year’s NEA Representative Assembly, attend the following year’s NEA ESP Conference, and is appointed to the following year’s NEA ESP of the Year selection committee with expenses paid for by NEA.

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO 

Each nominee must submit a high-resolution, digital headshot taken with a neutral, solid background, that will be used for promotional purposes only. Selfies are not recommended. The photo should be 1200 x 1200 pixels or 1.4Mb in size and 300 dpi. The photo must be submitted as a JPEG and attached as a separate file. Photos must be submitted via email to govforms@maineea.org by March 7, 2026. 

To recognize a local association for effective bargaining and protecting member rights by:

1. being a strong advocate for members;
2. being a leader in effective bargaining practices; and
3. organizing wall to wall units.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

The local association must be affiliated by MEA. The local association contract must include the issues of just cause standard for discipline, non-renewal and dismissal, appropriate reduction-in-force language for the unit, and binding arbitration for grievances.

The reason for recognition should demonstrate a significant impact beyond the local association.

PROCEDURE:

The awards nomination form must be received by the MEA President by March 7, 2026. Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.

FINAL SELECTION:

MEA Board of Directors. Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.)

PRESENTATION:

Announcement of the recipient of the John H. Marvin Local Association Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.

To recognize an individual or group whose leadership, acts, and support have contributed to the improvement of public higher education in Maine.

APPLY HERE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: 

The recipient will be an individual or group who has worked to support faculty and staff in their efforts to provide a high-quality public higher education.  Significant support contributions may include advocacy, resources, or community leadership. 

PROCEDURE: 

Any higher education MEA member may nominate an individual or group by submitting a completed nomination form and supporting documents to the MEA President by the March 7, 2026.  Non higher education members are not eligible to nominate.  Each nomination form must be signed by an MEA member.   

FINAL SELECTION: 

MEA Board of Directors.  Award recipients will be notified through the office of the MEA President. (In any given year, this award may not be presented.) 

PRESENTATION: 

Announcement of the recipient of the MEA Public Higher Education Impact Award will be made at the MEA Representative Assembly.