Great teaching changes everything.

Arlington’s best teachers

deserve to hear it.

The AWARE Foundation is a community of neighbors, parents, and former students who come together each year to honor the Arlington ISD educators who go above and beyond — with celebration, recognition, and cash awards that say thank you in a way words can’t.

Give to Honor a Teacher
Two women are smiling and holding Aware awards at a ceremony. One wears a black sleeveless dress; the other wears a black top with silver sequined sleeves. The woman on the left holds a wooden plaque; the woman on the right holds a glass award.

Cash awards that say thank you

Each year, AWARE places $3,000 in the hands of one outstanding teacher — and $1,500 with a runner-up — in every grade-level category. The awards are unrestricted because a teacher who has given this much has earned the freedom to use it however they choose.

Fund a Teacher's Award
A large banquet hall filled with numerous round tables, each set with tableware, glasses, and small floral centerpieces. The room is crowded with diverse attendees seated and engaged in conversation at the annual Aware awards banquet.

community honoring teachers

AWARE is run entirely by community volunteers — parents, business leaders, and former educators who believe great teaching deserves far more than a passing thank-you. They read every nomination and sit in real classrooms because honoring a teacher well means truly seeing their work.

Volunteer with AWARE
A woman at a podium with a microphone at the annual Aware awards event. Behind her is a decorative balloon arch with red, green, and silver balloons, and a backdrop with a logo and text that reads "AWARE" and an outline of a face in profile.

It starts with someone noticing

Every nomination begins with a student, parent, or colleague who couldn’t stop thinking about the difference a teacher made. AWARE turns that gratitude into something a teacher can hold onto — strengthening the bond between Arlington’s classrooms and the community that loves them.

Nominate a Teacher