RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS

"I was so excited when I opened the email and saw the word “Congratulations!” Receiving the 2026 NSHSS Career & Technical Education (CTE) Grant is a very special accomplishment for me. This is the first grant I have ever applied for and received, which makes this opportunity especially meaningful. I am honored to be part of the inaugural group of recipients for NSHSS’s CTE Grant. Thank you, NSHSS, for believing in my vision and investing in educators and students. This grant will allow me to provide my students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world careers, entrepreneurship, leadership, and business. I am grateful to be an NSHSS educator and appreciate that NSHSS reached out to me and invited me to become part of such an amazing organization. The opportunity to present a workshop during the 2026 NSHSS Scholar’s Day was another rewarding experience that allowed me to share my knowledge and connect with students and fellow educators. One of the highlights of my NSHSS experience has been meeting the amazing staff. Everyone I have met has been welcoming, accommodating, helpful, and supportive. Their kindness and genuine commitment to educators and students have made my experience with NSHSS even more meaningful. To my fellow educators, I encourage you to join NSHSS and apply for the educator grants. Do not be afraid to take that first step. This experience has shown me that putting yourself and your ideas forward can open doors and create new opportunities for your students. Thank you, NSHSS, for this incredible opportunity. I am excited to put this grant to work and create opportunities for my students to learn, lead, create, and succeed. When we invest in educators, we invest in students—and when we invest in students, we invest in the future."

"Thank you to the selection committee and the national scholars organization. It's important to acknowledge the greatest teacher in my life, Jesus Christ, and the privilege of being aligned with the work that God created me to do. Thank you to my parents, siblings, my wonderful educator wife Steyven, and our daughters, who allow me to do this work. I would like to acknowledge my colleagues at ASU Prep Digital for their professionalism and dedication to student success. I would also like to recognize our student body, their families, and our Arizona State University campus partners for creating a culture of academic excellence and innovation. I believe education provides us with the best ability to eradicate institutional poverty and cultivate the next generation of industry leaders. It is a privilege to collaborate with employers, align core academic learning with employment skills, and foster a commitment to relevance in our instructional practices. I humbly accept this award and thank you for the recognition. God bless you."

"NSHSS is incredible. They are at the forefront of supporting schools, students, and educators. Having a group that truly cares about equity and access for students to achieve is praiseworthy in a world where people don't always see the value in education."

"I am humbled and very grateful for such a blessing. I am very pleased and honored to be a recipient of the NSHSS grant award. The grant will be of great assistance in providing extra resources to help with teaching and learning AP Biology. The 3D courseware will be of great help with AP Biology, where both I and my students are English Language Learners. With our cultural background and upbringing, most of our learning process that occurs at home is mostly practicing and observing. Having the resources to purchase online programs to be utilized for teaching and learning will be of great benefit."

"Working with NSHSS has empowered me to be a creative and compassionate teacher. As an educator, it can feel like I'm always trying to perform an infinite number of miracles with a finite supply of loaves and fishes. The grant I received this year from NSHSS has quickly been converted into a garden for our environmental science elective targeted towards kids with learning disabilities. For this and so much more, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the people and organizations that made this possible. Let's keep the miracles flowing!"

"The importance of offering AP classes has been well documented-study after study reveals that students who are challenged with college level classes have more persistence, better study habits, and greater financial flexibility if they pass the rigorous exams. An AP course structured with a bedrock in the inquiry arc allows students to experience learning at a collegiate level long before they enroll in an undergraduate institution. However, it is the underlying impact that offering college level classes has on an entire school community, whether enrolled in AP classes or not, that makes advanced placement a necessity for any high school. I have been teaching AP World History for four years to mostly freshman students in the south side of Chicago. Preparing students for a high stakes exam was not the reason I got into teaching. My teaching philosophy is rooted in the importance of inquiry and student choice, which allows students to see themselves in the history of the world. When I first began this journey of teaching AP World it seemed impossible to get the majority of my students to pass the exam for college credit, and at the same time fall in love with history as I had long ago. My passion for learning stems from asking tough questions about the hard truths of world history, and then searching for my own answers with the research skills I learned from my professors or teachers. I also knew that passing an AP exam for many of my students is a game changer in a higher education system where costs have skyrocketed for families. With the grant from NSHSS I will be able to better serve the needs of my students by curating a robust research library and bypass frustrating paywalls of the elite research databases. Thank you NSHSS for providing that rigor for my students!"

"Receiving the NSHSS School Supplies Grant (Wave 2) in 2023 was a transformative experience for both my students and me. The grant provided essential learning materials that significantly enhanced the classroom environment, making learning more engaging and accessible. With these resources, my students expanded their knowledge, actively participated in lessons, and truly enjoyed their time at school. Seeing their excitement and motivation grow reaffirmed my belief in the power of education and the importance of having the right tools to support student success. I am deeply grateful to NSHSS for their commitment to empowering educators and students alike. Thank You Message for the School Club Cash Grant I am honored to receive the NSHSS School Club Cash Grant, which will greatly enhance the extracurricular opportunities available to my students. This funding will help expand the Model United Nations (MUN) Club, Creative Writing Society, and Community Service Outreach Group, providing students with leadership experiences, creative outlets, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact in their communities. NSHSS’s support reaffirms the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping well rounded, confident, and engaged students. Thank you, NSHSS, for believing in the power of education and student leadership I am excited to see my students grow and thrive because of this incredible opportunity!"

"Thank you so much for this generous grant, which affirms the time and heart I invest in striving to make my classes meaningful."

"I really appreciate being awarded this grant for my garden club! I have so many enthusiastic students who really love working in the garden this year - and our projects always cost money to complete! This money is really going to help set us up for successful winter gardening, as we are using it to construct cold frames for the exisiting beds!"