RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS

"This is the first time I have applied for a grant through NSHSS and I have to share my appreciation for their willingness to help me to help my students and players. The application process was fairly easy, and I am so grateful for the NSHSS."

“I want to thank the Scholarship & Grants committee for selecting me for this incredible honor! As a teacher, I went into the profession because I wanted to make a difference in students’ lives and create positive change. Through the application process, this recognition has helped me to reflect on my years as an educator and the impact I am making every day to my students and the community. I am truly humbled by being selected as the 2022 Claes Nobel Educator of the Year from a pool of other educators that are also doing incredible things in their schools. Thank you!”

"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for awarding me the $500 School Cash Club Grant for 2024, Wave 1. I am truly honored to receive this support from such a prestigious organization. I am particularly excited about using these funds to purchase books for my students, enabling me to continue our book club over the summer following the 2024-2025 school year. By encouraging students to keep reading during the break, I aim to foster their love of literature and help prevent any loss of reading skills. Again, Thank you for your generosity and for supporting my efforts to promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading among students."

"Receiving this grant from NSHSS is truly an honor and a meaningful reminder of why I chose to step into education. My journey into the classroom came after many years in the professional world, and I’ve learned that success isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about believing in your ability to grow, take risks, and pursue opportunities. Every day, I strive to create an environment where my students feel valued, capable, and prepared for whatever path they choose. This recognition not only affirms the work happening in my classroom, but it also fuels my passion to continue pouring into my students and helping them see their potential. I am incredibly grateful to NSHSS for investing in educators and for inspiring the next generation to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams."

"There will always be a new idea that teachers have that can make the classroom a more meaningful and exciting place for students. There is not always district funding. NSHSS has provided my classroom with funds more than once over the course of my entire teaching career. Whether it's an expanded film library or more production equipment, my students have had more opportunities to do college level work and feel like professionals because of NSHSS grants. Thank you, NSHSS! Please keep supporting teachers! Teachers, if you have an exciting idea and need support—apply!"

"Receiving this grant from the National Society of High School Scholars is both an honor and a powerful encouragement in my journey as an educator. It affirms that the work we do in under-resourced classrooms truly matters. This support will directly impact my students by creating more engaging, hands-on learning experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence. To my fellow educators, your dedication shapes the future in ways that often go unseen but are deeply meaningful. And to students, never underestimate your potential your determination can overcome any barrier. I am deeply grateful to NSHSS for investing in education and empowering teachers and learners around the world to strive for excellence and make a lasting difference."

'Thank you for this opportunity to use the grant funds to continue the pursuit of my EdD in Educational Policy and Organizational Leadership. This degree is deepening my understanding of myself as an educator and how I can directly impact change in the communities I serve."

"I am very grateful for this grant. I feel blessed to be able to do what I love, and love what I do! Music education is invaluable now, more than ever. I will continue my efforts to improve, enhance, promote, and grow, our Music Program. Sincerely and musically yours, Dr. Henry Orazi"

"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!"