NEA Foundation names five public school educators for 2027 teaching awards

The NEA Foundation will honor five public school educators from California, Washington, Ohio, Rhode Island and Virginia at its Feb. 12, 2027 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C. Each honoree will receive $10,000 and is a finalist for the NEA Member Benefits Award.

Why it matters: - The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence are one of the highest honors in public education. - Each 2027 honoree will receive $10,000. - The awards spotlight educators whose work extends beyond the classroom to families, communities and the broader teaching profession. - Each honoree is also a finalist for the NEA Member Benefits Award, the top honor in public education.

What happened: - The NEA Foundation named five public school educators as recipients of the 2027 Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence. - The honorees will be recognized on Feb. 12, 2027, at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. - The gala will also include the premiere screening of documentary films about the honorees’ teaching practices and community impact. - The 2027 honorees are Javier Gutiérrez of Alhambra High School in Alhambra, California; Jessica Justice of Ridgewood Elementary School in Renton, Washington; Chris Monsour of Tiffin Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio; Michelle Murtha of Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Alynn Parham of Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The details: - Gutiérrez teaches 9th-12th grade history/social studies and was nominated by the California Teachers Association. - Justice teaches the 4th-5th grade Highly Capable Odyssey Program and was nominated by the Washington Education Association. - Monsour teaches 9th-12th grade science and was nominated by the Ohio Education Association. - Murtha teaches 9th-12th grade special education and was nominated by NEA Rhode Island. - Parham teaches 9th-12th grade history/social studies and was nominated by the Virginia Education Association. - An expert panel selected the awardees. - The panel evaluated excellence in the classroom, efforts to expand opportunities for all students, engagement with families and communities, commitment to professional development and advocacy for the teaching profession. - The awards have been presented for more than two decades by The NEA Foundation and Horace Mann. - This year’s gala and awards are presented with support from FNBO, Horace Mann Educators Foundation, NEA Member Benefits, Travelers Insurance, American Fidelity and Bank of America. - More information is available on the foundation’s website.

Between the lines: - The honorees reflect a mix of grade levels, subjects and states, signaling a broad view of teaching excellence rather than a single classroom profile. - The inclusion of documentary screenings suggests the NEA Foundation is trying to turn the awards into a wider public showcase for effective teaching practices. - The finalists-for-a-top-honor structure gives the program an added competitive layer beyond the cash award.

What's next: - The NEA Foundation will host the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala on Feb. 12, 2027. - The organization will premiere films about the honorees’ work at the event. - The 2027 awardees will remain in consideration for the NEA Member Benefits Award.

The bottom line: - The NEA Foundation is using its annual awards to elevate five educators whose work combines classroom performance, community engagement and professional leadership.