Program Links
Nominate an Outstanding Educator for the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence
The Oklahoma Medal for Excellence, one of Oklahoma’s premiere educator awards, recognizes public school educators for their passion and innovation, commitment to professional development, and extraordinary impact on student learning. Anyone – including colleagues, parents, students, former students or community members – can nominate a public-school educator for an Oklahoma Medal for Excellence Award. Previous award winners are not eligible for nomination.
Honorees will be recognized May 20, 2023, at our Academic Awards Banquet, which has been described as the “Academy Awards of public education in Oklahoma.” Each honoree will receive a $5,000 cash award and an etched glass Roots and Wings sculpture.
NEW THIS YEAR: The nomination process will be initiated by the NOMINATOR. (Self-nominations are not accepted.) Once the nominator statement is submitted, the nominee will receive a system-generated email invitation to create an account in our Academic Awards portal and complete the nomination requirements. These will include:
- A statement from the nominee
- Letters of recommendation
- Information about employment experience, educational background, professional development, professional presentations, community service, and teaching honors
- Verification of eligibility by a supervisor
Nominators will be required to create an account in our Awards Portal using a valid email address and a password. Doing so will allow them to save their work and come back to it later. Use the Google Chrome web browser for best results.
Deadline 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 29
IMPORTANT: All nomination materials, including the nominee’s statement and letters of recommendation, are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Please make your nomination early to allow time for the nominee and third-party contributors to complete the process.
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Webber at rachel@ofe.org or (405) 236-0006.
Award Categories and Criteria
Elementary Teaching
The nominee must currently be a full-time employee of a public school in Oklahoma and must have demonstrated excellence in education. Each nominee’s performance will be evaluated in terms of his or her own particular teaching environment.
The nominee must have a classroom teaching assignment in his or her current job description and expect to continue in an active teaching position in his or her school district throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Secondary Teaching
The nominee must currently be a full-time employee of a public school in Oklahoma and must have demonstrated excellence in education. Each nominee’s performance will be evaluated in terms of his or her own particular teaching environment.
The nominee must have a classroom teaching assignment in his or her current job description and expect to continue in an active teaching position in his or her school district throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Elementary/Secondary Administration
The nominee must currently be a full-time employee of a public school in Oklahoma and must have demonstrated excellence in education. Each nominee’s performance will be evaluated in terms of his or her own particular educational environment.
The nominee must expect to continue in his or her current administrative role in his or her school district throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Regional University/Community College Teaching
The nominee must currently be a full-time faculty member employed by a public regional university or community college in Oklahoma (as those terms are defined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education) and must have demonstrated excellence in education. Each nominee’s performance will be evaluated in terms of his or her own particular teaching environment.
The nominee must have a teaching component in his or her current job description and expect to continue in an active teaching position at his or her college or university throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Regional University/Community College Teaching
The nominee must currently be a full-time faculty member employed by a public regional university or community college in Oklahoma (as those terms are defined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education) and must have demonstrated excellence in education. Each nominee’s performance will be evaluated in terms of his or her own particular teaching environment.
The nominee must have a teaching component in his or her current job description and expect to continue in an active teaching position at his or her college or university throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
