The Education Partnership Awards 2021
Scroll down to see winners for each category!
You can still donate to this event using the form below!
We’re so close to our $10,000 goal!
About The Education Partnership Awards
Spring 2020 marked the first-ever The Education Partnership Awards. This year, we will celebrate 6 more excellent educators! This event will be virtual!
The objectives of The Education Partnership Award Program are to:
• Recognize the excellence of the many outstanding educators and administrators who participate in The Education Partnership’s programs;
• Focus attention on quality and exemplary educators;
• Increase public awareness of the importance of quality educators; and
• Provide tangible recognition of achievement, earn the respect of colleagues, and enhance professional opportunities for educators of The Education Partnership.
AWARD CATEGORIES
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for those teachers who teach elementary grade levels and who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
Leslie Vandegrift, West Hills Primary School
Rhonda Gresock, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy
Kelly Polosky, Turner Intermediate
WINNER
Alissa Szewczak, Martin Elementary School
Middle School Teacher of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for those teachers who teach Middle School grade levels and who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
Marnie O’Connor, Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8
Ann Hoyt, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy
Morgan Harouse, Cornell High School
WINNER:
Amanda Butler, Manchester Academic Charter School
High School Teacher of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for those teachers who teach high school grade levels and who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
Luann Murtha, Clairview School
Heather Nicole Hallick, East Allegheny Junior/Senior High School
Rachael Petrill, Pressley Ridge Day School Greensburg
WINNER
Suellen Engelhard, Sto-Rox Jr/Sr High School
Rookie Teacher of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for new teachers (teachers with 1 year or less teaching experience) in any grade level, who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
Courtney Wolosik, Pittsburgh Allegheny PreK-5
Abbe Ward, Roy A. Hunt Elementary
Makenze Fine, Ringgold Elementary School South
WINNER:
Shai Zimmerman, Propel Northside
Retiring Teacher of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for retiring teachers (teachers who will retire and the end of the 2021 school year) in any grade level, who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
Laura Wenneker, Pittsburgh Brashear High School
WINNER
Marian Sullivan, Kelly Primary
Principal of the Year
Eligibility
This award is reserved for principals and who exemplify excellence at their school.
Finalists:
LouAnn Zwieryznski, Pittsburgh Liberty K-5
Molly O’Malley Argueta, Pittsburgh Allegheny PreK-5
Laura Soeder, Propel Braddock Hills Middle School
WINNER
Laura Dadey, Pittsburgh Sunnyside PreK-8
Bronze Apple Technology Sponsor
Red Apple Welcome Sponsor
Promotions Sponsor
Prizes Provided By
Who may nominate?
Any teacher, student, parent, school administrator, school staff member or citizen of any of our 8 counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, and Washington) may make nominations. Self-nominations are allowed!
Who is eligible?
Any educator or staff member who works at any of The Education Partnership’s 144 partner schools may be nominated.
How are awards recipients selected?
The Education Partnership verifies that all nominees are eligible and that nomination information is complete. Nominations are then sorted and forwarded to the selection committee for each award. Rubrics have been created for judging the submissions.
Please note: If none of the nominees meet the criteria for a specific award, a recipient will not be selected.
What is the deadline for nominations?
Nominations must be digitally submitted to on or before March 31st.
What should I submit?
Please refer to individual award descriptions for submission requirements.
Where should I send nominations?
Awards nominations are submitted online only at: https://theeducationpartnership.org/2021-teacher-awards/
Do I need to submit all required information together?
Required nomination answers CANNOT be submitted separately. Please have all the needed information ready to upload when you begin the submission process for each award. In order for a nomination to be considered complete, all necessary questions must be submitted together in one submission.
Who may vote?
Any teacher, student, parent, school administrator, school staff member or citizen of any of our 8 counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, and Washington) may make nominations. Self-voting is allowed!
What is the deadline for voting?
Voting is from April 16, 2021 – May 16th 2021.
When are awards presented?
Awards are presented virtually this summer at The Education Partnership’s Teacher Awards event on June 17th, 2021 at 5:00 PM.
How are awards publicized?
A press release announcing the selection of each award recipient may be sent by The Education Partnership to employers and media outlets. All award recipients are announced in The Education Partnership Newsletter and on The Education Partnership’s website.
What are The Education Partnership’s partner schools?
The Education Partnership serves 143 schools. For a full list of schools please visit: https://theeducationpartnership.org/partner-schools/
Click HERE for a full list of Official Award Rules
