The NEA Foundation names Columbia educator as finalist for prestigious national education award
December 2, 2014
Terri Butts to be honored at awards gala in Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, DC – The NEA Foundation announced that Terri Butts, a curriculum specialist at the Richland Two Child Development Center in Columbia, SC will receive the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, $10,000, and recognition as one of the nation’s top educators at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Awards Gala to be held on Feb. 13, 2015 in Washington, DC.
The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence are presented annually at its awards gala, which attracts more than 800 national leaders from the public education, philanthropic, and business sectors. The awards recognize, reward, and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession.
“Terri has been selected for this award by her peers because she has attained the highest teaching standards, as shown by her exemplary instruction, advocacy for the profession, attention to diversity, leadership in professional development, and engagement of parents and community,” said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “Honoring these educators is our way of thanking them, and all the public school educators they represent, for their excellent work.”
Butts was nominated for the award by the South Carolina Education Association, the state’s National Education Association affiliate.
The four other finalists are:
- Crystal Williams Gordon, who teaches Biology at Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, LA;
- Anna E. Baldwin, who teaches English Language Arts and History at Arlee High School in Arlee, MT;
- Allison P. Riddle, who teaches Fifth Grade at Foxboro Elementary in North Salt Lake City, Utah; and
- Richard Erickson, who teaches Chemistry, Physics, and Alternative Education at Bayfield High School in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
The NEA Foundation will live stream video of the event on its website, enabling students, peers, and families of the awardees to join in the celebration from communities around the country.
In addition to this recognition, students and educators at the awardees’ schools have produced videos of the awardees that will be premiered at the awards gala.
The NEA Foundation and the National Education Association jointly present the awards with support from NEA Member Benefits, the Horace Mann Companies, the Pearson Foundation, Promethean, and California Casualty.
The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a public charity supported by contributions from educators’ dues, corporate sponsors, and others who support public education initiatives. We support student success by helping public school educators work with key partners to build strong systems of shared responsibility. Visit www.neafoundation.org for more information.
