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

April 2027: Nomination deadline (projected)

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

Recognizes classroom educators and NCTE members who demonstrate outstanding leadership in literacy both inside and outside the classroom.

Award is recognition-only; no financial support is provided.

--- ## Description This annual award honors a classroom educator who is a current NCTE member and demonstrates exceptional leadership in literacy education. The recipient is recognized for impactful literacy work within the classroom, leadership that drives positive change in literacy instruction or programming beyond the classroom, and for having teaching as at least half of their daily responsibilities. The award is presented at the CEL Annual Convention and is intended to celebrate excellence in educational leadership and contributions to the broader school and educational communities. --- ## Due Dates - April 2027: Nomination deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - There is **no monetary award** associated with this recognition. - The recipient receives a certificate, presented at the CEL Annual Convention. --- ## Eligibility - Must be a classroom educator. - Must be a current member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). - At least half of the nominee’s daily role must be teaching. - Demonstrated leadership both in the classroom (impactful literacy work) and outside the classroom (driving change in literacy instruction, programming, or systems). - Candidates not selected in a given year will be considered for the next two years. --- ## Application Process - Submit a completed [Nomination Form](https://ncte.org/groups/cel/cel-awards-nomination-form/). - Include at least two letters of recommendation. - Provide the candidate’s curriculum vitae. - Nominations are reviewed by the CEL Awards Committee, which may consider nominees for a different CEL award if they feel it is a better fit. - For questions regarding eligibility or the nomination process, email [cel@ncte.org](mailto:cel@ncte.org). --- ## Additional Information - The award is recognition-only; there is no financial component. - The certificate is awarded at the CEL Annual Convention. - Previous winners and additional details can be found on the [award program page](https://ncte.org/awards/cel-teacher-leader-of-excellence-award/). --- ## External Links - [Program Page: CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award](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/) - [CEL Annual Convention](http://www.ncte.org/cel/convention) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [cel@ncte.org](mailto:cel@ncte.org) | | Phone | 217-328-3870 | | Funder Website | [https://ncte.org](https://ncte.org) | | Contact Page | [https://ncte.org/contact-us/](https://ncte.org/contact-us/) |

CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award

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