Know an educator who goes above and beyond?

Now's your chance to shine a spotlight on them!

Somewhere in Arlington ISD there’s a teacher who goes above and beyond every day for their students, their colleagues, and their community, and who may never have heard what that means to the people around them. Nominating them for an AWARE Award is your chance to change that: to put their name forward, tell their story, and let them be seen, celebrated, and rewarded for the difference they make.

Before you begin: We accept only one nomination per teacher, so it’s important to work together. The nomination is a team effort: the nominator and the teacher each have their own questions to answer to complete it. Reach out to your teacher early so you can finish it together.

2026-2027 Nomination Window:

10/26/26 - 12/2/26

How to Nominate a Teacher

  • Reach out to your nominee and let them know you’d like to put their name forward. It’s a meaningful moment all on its own — so we’ve created a certificate you can share to mark it. (Certificate Link) Take a minute to tell them about the AWARE Foundation and, in your own words, why you’re nominating them.

  • A nomination from someone who has witnessed a teacher’s impact firsthand is an honor in itself. Ask your nominee if they’d like to accept. To be considered, a teacher must have completed at least three full school calendar years in Arlington ISD and still be actively teaching in the classroom.

  • From here, you and your nominee complete one shared nomination form — each filling out the section that applies to you. Only one form is submitted, so gather everything you need before you begin. Late, incomplete, or incorrect submissions can’t be accepted. Questions? Leslie Hogg is glad to help at: awareselections@gmail.com.

Nomination FAQs

  • AWARE accepts nominations for classroom teachers — including fine arts, GT, and dyslexia teachers — who go above and beyond for their students, have taught in AISD for three or more full school calendar years, and are still in the classroom today.

    Teachers are eligible for the semifinalist observation process every other year; if you were a semifinalist last year, you’re not eligible for nomination this year.

    A winner’s recognition is a celebration for all of Arlington — and that honor never expires. To give every outstanding educator in Arlington ISD a turn to be celebrated, past Award of Excellence winners are lovingly retired from future eligibility. We hope they’ll stay close to AWARE as an inspiration to the next generation of nominees.

  • Once the nomination window closes, semifinalists are selected through an anonymous ranking of the nomination forms — so make sure yours is complete and clearly captures how the nominee goes above and beyond for students. Semifinalists then open their classrooms to three to six members of the selection committee for observation. Finalists are chosen from there and interview with the committee to determine the winners. Finally, every nominee, finalist, and winner is celebrated at the Annual AWARE Foundation Award Banquet.

  • Nomination Form Submission: 10/26/26 - 12/2/26

    Semifinalist Notification: 1/13/27

    Classroom Observations: 1/19/27 - 3/25/27

    Finalist Interviews: 4/6/27 - 4/7/27

    Celebration Banquet: 5/3/27

Begin Your Nomination