MNEA Awards and Accolades

This awards program is co-sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Corporation. The winners of the Horace Mann Friend of Education Awards in the categories of Teacher and Education Support Personnel will be the Missouri nominees for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence and the NEA-ESP of the year Award. Nomination Deadline: Feb. 15 (Teacher nomination due Dec. 15) Nomination Process...

The purpose of the Leila Medley Quality Local Association Award (LMQLA) is to strengthen local associations by providing a framework that describes the characteristics of locals with high levels of capacity and recognizes progress within that framework. Leila Medley was a teacher, MNEA leader, and an MNEA staff member who understood the power of political involvement and the importance of strong...

In 1968, speaking before a group of teachers, Senator Tom Eagleton looked out over the audience and stated, “I know only one teacher here and that’s Lorna Bottger from Paris, Missouri. Now, where were all of the rest of you during my campaign?” That teacher was a charter member of MNEA. Lorna was at the forefront of political action for teachers and public education throughout her professional...

Missouri NEA local associations receive recognition for: Greatest numerical increase (presented in April and August) Percentage of new employees enrolled (presented in April) Solid rock status (presented in August to locals with 80 percent or greater membership) In order to qualify for MNEA's membership recognition program, locals must verify their membership potential by Nov. 15 each year. To...

MNEA Past President Shirley Cromer believed that true leadership extends beyond local and state participation in the Association. She believed that awareness and knowledge of national goals and programs are essential to preserving the ongoing continuity and integrity of the Missouri NEA. The Shirley Cromer Leadership Award is funded annually through the Shirley Cromer Memorial Fund. Each year...

This award is presented annually in honor of Ruth Keeling to encourage the development of leadership in the United Education Profession. This award recognizes a new leader who is starting to "soar." Nominee must: Be an active member whose presence and contribution of time, energy, and wisdom within the past year has made a difference to the United Education Profession. The recipient should be an...