The OEA Education Support Professional Award is presented each year to an OEA member whose activities reflect the contributions of education support professionals to public education. The recipient must have been a member of OEA for three years as of July 15 of the award year.  Each OEA-affiliated ESP local association may nominate one of its members.  The winner qualifies as the OEA nominee for NEA's Education Support Professional Award. The application deadline is July 15, 2013.

The winners have been announced for the following awards: Marilyn Cross Scholarship Award, John F. Kennedy Scholarship Award, Jean Kershaw Scholarship Award, Holloways/Human and Civil Rights Award,  ESP of the Year Award, and the OEA Friend of Education Award.
 

Identify and nominate exemplary individuals, organizations, and affiliates to celebrate at the 2012 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner. Deadline for submission: Postmarked by December 10, 2011

The OEA Affiliate Grant Program makes grants available to all local OEA affiliates - whether a large local, a small local, or a cluster of locals.  To be eligible for a grant, the affiliate must provide a statement of how its program will strengthen the Association at the local, state, and/or national level. 

Throughout the year, the NEA Foundation awards over 150 grants to support educators’ efforts to close the achievement gaps, develop creative learning opportunities for students, and enhance their own professional development.

The Marilyn Cross Scholarship was instituted in December of 2002 to honor the memory of Marilyn Cross, past president and revered leader of the OEA.

The John F. Kennedy Scholarship was instituted in November of 1963 at the annual Ohio Education Association Representative Assembly, during which President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Assembly delegates took action during the convention to establish the scholarship as an annual memorial to President Kennedy.

The Jean Kershaw Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Jean Kershaw, a long-time OEA employee who died in the fall of 1985, after having served as secretary to 11 OEA presidents.

The Paul Swaddling Award is presented to an individual OEA member, and the Peace and International Understanding Award is offered to a district or local affiliate. Both awards recognize outstanding contributions to the promotion or execution of the cause of peace and international understanding. Any member and/or group of the United Education Profession (UEP) may nominate an individual OEA member, district or local OEA affiliate.

The OEA presents up to three awards each year to recognize achievements in human relations and related intercultural activities which impact children, communities, the educational process, and/or the United Education Profession.

The OEA Blue Ribbon Association Award is presented to local associations who have displayed innovative problem-solving techniques and/or unique public relations and communication skills. These locals have shown themselves to be true advocates of public education and its employees. Recipients will receive a monetary award in the amount of $500.  

The Media Award for Public Service recognizes an individual and/or organization for a major contribution to the better understanding of the problems, progress, and needs of public education, or for programming of an outstanding educational nature. Any member or local organization of the Ohio Education Association may nominate an individual or organization to receive this award.

The OEA Friend of Education Award recognizes a person and/or organization whose leadership, actions, and support have contributed to the improvement of public education on a statewide and/or national level. Any member of the Ohio Education Association may nominate an individual or organization to receive this award by submitting the name of the candidate to the office of the OEA President, along with rationale and evidence supporting their nomination.  

The Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching recognizes educators whose knowledge and skill make them particularly successful at meeting the needs of students from racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse backgrounds.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has partnered with the National Council of Teachers of English to participate in their National Gallery of Writing by having their own gallery specifically for Nationally Board Certified Teachers.