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

April 1, 2026 (Nomination deadline) | April 15, 2026 (Call for Nominations deadline)

No monetary award; recipient receives a certificate presented at the CEL Annual Convention.

Recognizes NCTE classroom educators demonstrating exemplary literacy leadership and impact within and beyond the classroom.

--- ## Description The CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award, presented by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), honors classroom educators and NCTE members who demonstrate exceptional leadership in literacy education. The award recognizes individuals who amplify student voices, make a significant impact on literacy within their classrooms, and contribute to broader educational communities by driving change in literacy instruction, programming, and systems. Recipients are selected by the CEL Award Committee and are recognized at the CEL Annual Convention. --- ## Due Dates - April 1, 2026: Nomination deadline for the CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award (nominations must be received by this date) - April 15, 2026: Call for Nominations deadline for CEL Awards (includes Innovative Leadership and Teacher-Leader of Excellence Awards) --- ## Funding Amount - No monetary award is provided. - The recipient receives a certificate, which is presented at the CEL Annual Convention. --- ## Eligibility - Nominee must be a classroom educator and a current NCTE member. - Teaching must constitute at least half of the nominee’s daily role. - The educator should demonstrate: - Literacy work with notable impact inside the classroom. - Leadership outside the classroom that has generated change in literacy instruction, programming, or systems. - Candidates not selected in a given year remain under consideration for the following two years. --- ## Application Process - Submit a completed nomination form for each candidate by April 1, 2026. - Required materials: - Nomination Form ([available here](https://ncte.org/groups/cel/cel-awards-nomination-form/)) - At least two letters of recommendation (PDF format) - Candidate’s curriculum vitae (PDF format) - Nominations are confidential. - If unsure which award best matches a nominee’s experience, email [cel@ncte.org](mailto:cel@ncte.org). - The CEL Awards Committee may consider nominees for a different CEL award if appropriate. --- ## Additional Information - The award is presented at the CEL Annual Convention. - Previous recipients are listed on the [award page](https://ncte.org/awards/cel-teacher-leader-of-excellence-award/). - The nomination process is competitive and based on the strength of supporting materials. --- ## External Links - [CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award Information](https://ncte.org/awards/cel-teacher-leader-of-excellence-award) - [CEL Awards Overview](https://ncte.org/awards/conference-on-english-leadership-awards/) - [Nomination Form](https://ncte.org/groups/cel/cel-awards-nomination-form/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | General/CEL Awards | [cel@ncte.org](mailto:cel@ncte.org) | | NCTE General Inquiries | [Contact Page](https://ncte.org/contact-us/) | | Phone | 217-328-3870 |

CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award

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