Please join the Arizona Indian Education (AIEA) in celebrating the many professionals who significantly impact American Indian students.  Each year, we host our Annual Educator Awards Celebration.  This event was created to honor educators throughout Arizona who work with American Indian students and who have made significant impacts in the area of American Indian education. AIEA acknowledges the many leaders in our state who have done substantial work to promote language, culture, and tribal sovereignty. 

Annual Educator Awards

AIEA highly encourages you to nominate an educator who passionately and proactively supports American Indian students. The deadline for nominations is Sunday, August 17, 2025.

  • Nomination must be submitted by August 17, 2025

  • Awardees will be notified by August 25, 2025

  • Awardees may submit an award acceptance or highlight video or statement by September 1, 2025

  • All awardees must be present for this celebration event on Thursday, September 4, 2025

Important Dates

  • Must not have been awarded an AIEA Educator’s Award previously

  • Must not nominate oneself

Nominee Eligibility Requirements:

Submit Your Nomination Today

AWARD CATEGORIES & QUALIFICATIONS

Early Career Educator Award:  This award seeks to encourage those educators (including certified teachers and/or paraprofessionals) beginning their professional careers in Education (Eligibility: Currently in their first 1-5 years of teaching experience)

Warrior Educator Award:  This award honors educators (including certified teachers and/or paraprofessionals) who have demonstrated long-standing leadership and mentorship that led to American Indian student success and achievement (Eligibility: more than 5 years of teaching experience)

Founder Award:  This special award is to honor any type of educator (teacher, paraprofessional, principal, superintendent, etc.) who has shown a minimum of twenty years of dedication to American Indian students.  Retired educators are welcome to be nominated.

Caregiver Award:  This special recognition acknowledges the continued support that parents, grandparents, and other caregivers provide to American Indian students. AIEA recognizes that caregivers are not always parents and we welcome nominations for a wide variety of caregivers in this category.

Serving the Community Award:  This award is for out-of-school/after-school/ coach who made significant efforts to provide support for American Indian students and demonstrated leadership in promoting, defending, or supporting Indian education. This may include volunteering to lead extracurricular activities such as sports, arts/music, student council, after-school club or other student programming. 

Unsung Hero Award:  There are many people who devote time and energy into providing a rewarding experience on a regular basis to American Indian students.  Please use this category to nominate a bus driver, cafeteria worker, classified staff or other unsung hero of your school/district/education program.

Program Award:  This category is specifically designated for those professionals who lead a JOM program, Title VI, or additional support for American Indian education programs.

Language Revitalization Award:  This award seeks to honor those who continue to promote and teach tribal languages in any setting.

Administrator Award:  This award may be given to principals, superintendents, and other administrators who impact the education of American Indian students.