[National Council of Teachers of English](https://ncte.org)

April 1, 2026 (Nomination deadline, annual)

No monetary award; recipient receives a plaque, CEL Luncheon ticket, and one-year CEL membership for themselves and a colleague.

Recognizes an outstanding English language arts educator and leader for exceptional teaching, leadership, and professional impact.

--- ## Description The CEL Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award, administered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), honors a distinguished English language arts educator and leader who has demonstrated exceptional teaching and leadership practices. The award is named in memory of Kent D. Williamson, former NCTE Executive Director, and celebrates educators who have made significant, lasting contributions to the profession through local, regional, and national engagement. Recipients are recognized for their ongoing impact through presentations, workshops, publications, and leadership activities that influence school leaders and the broader educational community. --- ## Due Dates - April 1, 2026: Nomination deadline (annual, for 2026) - April 1, 2025: Previous cycle deadline Nominations must be received by April 1 each year for full consideration. --- ## Funding Amount - This is an honorary award with no direct monetary prize. - The recipient receives: - A commemorative plaque - Ticket to the CEL Luncheon - One-year complimentary CEL membership - One-year complimentary CEL membership to present to a colleague - Opportunity to speak at the CEL Convention --- ## Eligibility - Nominees must be members of NCTE. - The nominee should be an outstanding English language arts educator and leader. - Candidates are recognized for: - Exceptional teaching and/or leadership practices - Significant contributions to the profession at local, regional, and national levels - Impact through presentations, workshops, and publications - Both self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted. - Candidates not selected in the year of nomination will be considered for the next two years. --- ## Application Process - Nominations should be submitted by email to the CEL Associate Chair, Nicholas Emmanuele, at [naemmanuele@gmail.com](mailto:naemmanuele@gmail.com). - Required nomination materials: - Completed nomination form (see [Nomination Form](https://ncte.org/groups/cel/cel-awards-nomination-form/)) - At least two letters of recommendation - Candidate’s curriculum vitae - For full consideration, all materials must be received by April 1. - The CEL Awards Committee reviews nominations and selects the recipient. --- ## Additional Information - The award is presented at the Sunday CEL Opening Session during the NCTE Annual Convention. - Previous winners include prominent educators such as Kelly Gallagher, Jocelyn Chadwick, Linda Rief, Ernest Morrell, Pam Allyn, and Penny Kittle. - Candidates not selected in the nomination year are automatically reconsidered for the next two years. --- ## External Links - [CEL Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award Program Page](https://ncte.org/awards/cel-exemplary-leadership-award/) - [Conference on English Leadership Awards Overview](https://ncte.org/awards/conference-on-english-leadership-awards/) - [Nomination Form](https://ncte.org/groups/cel/cel-awards-nomination-form/) - [Past Award Winners (PDF)](http://www2.ncte.org/app/uploads/2017/06/Exemplary_Leader_Award_Winners-3.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Additional Info | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------| | CEL Associate Chair | [naemmanuele@gmail.com](mailto:naemmanuele@gmail.com) | | For nomination submissions | | NCTE (General Inquiries)| [Contact Form](https://ncte.org/contact-us/) | 217-328-3870 | For general questions about NCTE or awards | ---

CEL Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award

Sign in to see full grant listing