The NEA Foundation presented the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence to Danielle Kovach, a special education teacher at Hopatcong (N.J.) Public School, at the 17th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala Feb. 10 in Washington, E.C. Danielle was awarded $25,000 as part of the event's top honor.
View Danielle's acceptance speech on YouTube.
Danielle was selected among five finalists who were each awarded $10,000 as recipients of the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence.
The other recipients for 2012 are (from left to right):
- Lisa Esquibel, a kindergarten teacher at Davis Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyo.;
- Jonathan Gillentine, an early childhood teacher at Rev. Benjamin Parker School in Kaneohe, Hawaii;
- Cara Haney, a kindergarten teacher at Panther Lake Elementary in Kent, Wash.; and
- Jeff Peneston, an earth science teacher at Liverpool (N.Y.) High School.
Since 2001, Horace Mann has partnered with the National Education Association and the NEA Foundation to recognize, award and promote excellence in teaching through the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence. Congratulations again to Danielle Kovach and all of our recipients!
2013 nomination process
Each spring, the NEA Foundation accepts nominations from NEA federal, state and direct affiliates for the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence. All nominees must be nominated by an NEA affiliate.
Learn more about the online nomination process at the NEA Foundation's website.
WBER-0801 (2/12)