NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Educators inspire curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning, leaving a lasting impact far beyond the classroom. In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4–8, 2026, Teachers Federal Credit Union is proud to announce its 6th Annual Teacher Appreciation Week Contest, honoring nine educators who have made a meaningful difference in their students’ lives.
 

Do you know a teacher who is making an impact on the lives of students in grades Pre-K–12? We want to celebrate them!

Nominate an educator you know, and they could be the recipient of a $2,500, $1,500, or $1,000 grant for their classroom, as well as Teachers Federal Credit Union swag for their students. We are awarding a 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place grant in each of these three categories for a total of nine winners and $15,000 in grants.

Grades Pre-K–5

  • 1st Place = $2,500
  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000

Grades 6–8

  • 1st Place = $2,500

  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000              

Grades 9–12

  • 1st Place = $2,500
  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000

How it Works

  1. Nominate a teacher: Complete the nomination form by March 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
  2. Voting: The public votes for winners on the Teachers Federal Credit Union website from April 20–24, 2026.
  3. Celebrate the winners: Grant recipients will be announced on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
     

Requirements to Enter:

  • Eligible teachers must work in a public or private school district in the United States.
  • Eligible teachers must have an active teaching status, instructing grades Pre-K–12.
  • The nominee or nominator does not need to be a Teachers Federal Credit Union member.

Nominate a Teacher

Please complete and submit this nomination form by March 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. For questions, please email nominateateacher@teachersfcu.org. 

Nominator:

Tell us a little about you!

Examples: 631-698-7000 or 6316987000

Nominee:

Who is the teacher you are nominating?

Title

Questions:

Please answer each question below in 250 words or fewer.

Provide an example of how their actions helped a student gain confidence or skills. 
Share an example of their collaboration with others to support students or the school.
Provide an example of how they are learning new tools to better support their students' needs.
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible?

This award is open to teachers instructing from Pre-K through 12th grade in any public or private school district in the United States.

Do I need to be a Teachers FCU member to nominate a teacher or to be nominated?

No, you do not need to be a Teachers FCU member to nominate a teacher or be nominated.

When is the deadline to nominate someone?

Please submit your nomination between March 2, 2026, 9:00 AM ET through March 16, 2026, 11:59 PM ET

Can I nominate myself?

Yes, you can nominate yourself.

Who can nominate a teacher?

Anyone above the age of 18 can nominate a teacher.

How are the finalists selected?

Finalists are chosen by a committee based on the following criteria: 

25%: Completeness of the nomination; 

50%: Compelling written essay nomination; 

25%: How many nominations did you receive? 

Teachers may be nominated multiple times: 1-5 nominations = 5 points; 6-10 nominations = 10 points; 11-15 nominations = 15 points; 16-20 nominations = 20 points; 21 and more nominations = 25 points

How many times can I be nominated?

There is no limit to the amount of times you can be nominated and multiple nominations are encouraged!

How are the winners selected?

Winners are chosen based on public votes. Voting will be conducted on the Teachers website at teachersfcu.org/teachercontest. The educators with the most votes in each category will be selected as winners.

When does public voting start?

Public voting will be held from April 20, 2026, 9:00 AM ET through April 24, 2026, 11:59 PM ET on the Teachers website at teachersfcu.org/teachercontest

How many winners will be selected?

There will be a total of 9 winners with 3 winners in each category: 

  • Pre-K–5: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place
  • 6–8: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place
  • 9–12: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place
When will the finalists be notified if they win?

Using the contact information that was provided in the nomination, finalists will be informed between April 1 and April 10, 2026. Winners will be announced on Teachers website and through social media on Teacher Appreciation Day on May 5.

What do the winners receive?

The winners in each category will each receive a grant to be used for classroom supplies, as well as Teachers FCU swag for their students. Grants are as follows:

Grades Pre-K–5

  • 1st Place = $2,500
  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000 

Grades 6–8

  • 1st Place = $2,500
  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000 

Grades 9–12

  • 1st Place = $2,500
  • 2nd Place = $1,500
  • 3rd Place = $1,000 

DISCLOSURE & CONTEST RULES
Nominations can be submitted via teachersfcu.org/teachercontest. You must be 18 years or older to submit a nomination. Checks will be made payable to the schools of the winning teachers. Please allow up to 2 weeks for a check to be made payable to the selected schools. A W-9 form must be filled out by the winner's school and be placed on file with Teachers Federal Credit Union upon receipt of funds. Not limited to any state or school district. Winners selected will have their photo taken. Winners grant Teachers Federal Credit Union the right to use any images, name, voice/video, recordings, and any contest submissions in all forms of media, for all legal purposes, including but not limited to advertising, trade, or any commercial purpose through the world and in perpetuity. The contest is not applicable to Teachers employees.