Our tradition every year is to honor the outstanding work of local union leaders, educators, paraprofessionals, and school staff with awards recognizing their excellence. In 2023, we hosted our first-ever AFT Pennsylvania Education Champions Awards Celebration. The awards categories are as follows -
Outstanding Leadership Award
The Outstanding Leadership Award is presented to a building representative, local union officer, organizing or bargaining committee member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their local's fight for a fair contract, initial organizing, defeating anti-union activity by management, and/or protecting members' rights. Awards by size of local.
Small Local | Mid-Size Local | Large Local | New Organizing
Member Engagement Awards
Organizing
Recognizes a current member responsible for initiating action and motivating coworkers, organizing a new union or dramatically increasing member engagement.
Political Involvement
Recognizes a local or individual member who displayed outstanding commitment to mobilizing members to vote through GOTV in the 2022 General Election.
Community Outreach
Recognizing an individual member's contribution to the surrounding community through activism, volunteerism, and outreach outside of their union activities, especially on those issues that impact students - food insecurity, houselessness, healthcare accessibility, mental health, inclusivity, diversity, and a safe community.
Retirees
Recognizing a current retiree working with their local retiree chapter or the national retiree chapter championing issues facing Pennsylvania retirees and leading engagement relevant to this population.
Professional Excellence Award
Recognizes an individual member who has distinguished themselves as leaders in education in their individual sector’s school setting.
K-12 & Charter Educators | Higher Education | Paraprofessionals | Para/School-Related Personnel | Career & Technical Education
How to Nominate for 2025:
Submit a nomination form by the close of business on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Congratulations to our 2023 award recipients:
Outstanding Leadership Award
Andrew Fair - Erie County Vocational - Technical Federation of Teachers #1589
Outstanding Leadership in a Small Local
Presented by Tim Mello
James Simkins - Alliance of Charter Schools Employees #6056
Outstanding Leadership in a Mid-Size Local
Presented by Collin McCann
Harold Grant - Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers #400
Outstanding Leadership in a Large Local
Presented by Nina Esposito-Visgitis
Daniel Pieczkolon - United Academics of Philadelphia #9608
Outstanding Leadership in a New Organizing
Presented by Carol Mintus
Membership Engagement Award
Brittany Shoup - Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers #400
Outstanding Membership Growth and Organizing
Presented by Nina Esposito-Visgitis
Kerry Hammon – Neshaminy Federation of Teachers #1417
Outstanding Political Involvement
Presented by Tara Huber
Don Alexander – Carlynton Federation of Teachers #2120
Exceptional Community Outreach
Presented by Carrie Badger
Professional Excellence Awards
Edith Gamble - Green Tree Federation of Teachers #4802
Professional Excellence in K-12 or Charter
Presented by Paulette Hunt
Allegra Slick – PA Highlands Community College Federation of Teachers #6221
Professional Excellence in Higher Education
Presented by Carol Mintus
Brenda Marks – Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers #400
Outstanding Paraprofessional / School-related Personnel
Presented by Nina Esposito-Visgitis
Nicholas Rivituso – Steel Center Vocational-Technical Federation of Teachers #3621
Outstanding Career & Technical Educator
Presented by Jim Rihel
Special Organization Awards
United Staff of the Day School (USTDS #6056)
Outstanding Dedication for a New Local
Presented by Shelly Wen and Jim Rihel
Temple University Graduate Student Association (TUGSA #6290)
Outstanding Dedication in Collective Action
Presented by Jeff Doshna
Education Champion Ally Awards (nonmember)
Coalition of Natives and Allies- Donna Fann-Boyle and Arla Patch
Champion Community Allies
Presented by Sarah Robbins
PA Representative Elizabeth Fiedler
Champion Legislative Ally
Presented by Arthur Steinberg
Hon. Cherelle Parker
Distinguished Public Service
Presented by Arthur Steinberg
2023 Al Fondy Award
Patrick Festa Scranton Federation of Teachers #1147
Presented by Arthur Steinberg