EDUCATORS WHO TEACH students about the rights and obligations of citizens in society— or civics — should consider applying for a prestigious national award. The American Civics Education Teacher Award (ACETA) program is currently accepting applications from exemplary elementary and secondary civic education teachers. The deadline is May 1, 2023.

The National Education Association, the Center on Representative Government at Indiana University, and the Center for Civic Education sponsor the award, which recognizes three teachers each year for their expert instructional practices in civics, government, and related fields.

An ACETA committee selects teachers not only for their excellent work in the classroom, but also to represent their profession. The goal is to recognize K-12 educators who teach civic education for democracy, the diverse populations of today’s schools, and the different geographic regions of the United States. The selection committee considers teachers with a broad range of teaching styles, methods and types of students. In this way, the award showcases the work of excellent teachers who contribute to the civic education of the American student.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time K-12 classroom teachers. There is no fee to apply. Applicants must submit a resume, personal statement, and two letters of recommendation: one from their school principal and one from a teaching peer. Winners will have the opportunity to travel to the National Council for Social Studies annual conference in December, where they will be recognized as well as participate in a panel presentation on promising practices in civic education.

To learn more and to apply, visit: civiced.org/american-civic-education-teacher-awards.