“Teacher Is Not What YOU DO, but Who You Are”

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, along with The Rogers Foundation, launched The Heart of Education Awards with the goal of honoring, recruiting and retaining great educators in the Clark County School District.

The Heart of Education Awards are supported by the CCSD, but unlike district-run initiatives, this program is managed by a group of community leaders who believe that our teachers should be recognized for their fine work.

A nomination can come from a student, alumnus, parent, colleague, PTA member, community leader or anyone who is not related to the teacher and who knows his/her/their work. In order to complete the nomination form, a nominator should be prepared with the teacher’s name, school and CCSD email address (ex: wxyz@nv.ccsd.net), as well as reasons for the nomination. This includes ways the teacher has gone above and beyond to support students.

No. It is free to nominate a teacher and for teachers to apply for The Heart of Education Awards.

Nominations are closed for the 2023 Heart of Education Awards.

The nominator must submit their nomination online by completing the Nomination form. After submission of the nomination your teacher will be notified via email of your nomination. The teacher will be supplied with a link to follow in order to complete the online application and submit it.

Nominations are closed for the 2023 Heart of Education Awards.

The nominated teacher will receive an email advising them that they have been nominated. An electronic link will be supplied in the email which takes the teacher to the portal where they will complete the online application.

Teacher Application deadline for The 2023 Heart Of Education Awards has been extended to Friday, January 27, 2023.

Qualified applications will be judged by community leaders, education experts and sponsors who will be looking for evidence of how teachers have done exceptional work with making a difference in students’ lives. Award winners will be chosen based on the quality of their applications, their letters of recommendation and their compelling stories. Incomplete or inaccurate applications, as well as entries not complying with all of the rules, will be subject to disqualification. Judges’ decisions are final and binding. The number of finalists is dependent upon the number of qualified applicants.

Finalists will be notified via email in Spring 2023. The number of Finalists is dependent upon the number of qualified applicants and will not exceed 850.

To be eligible, nominees must be CCSD licensed, full-time teachers in good standing who have completed three consecutive years of teaching in the Clark County School District by the date of their application submission may apply. Teachers in after-school, private schools or studios, Charter schools or other educational settings are not eligible at this time. Substitute teachers are not eligible. Winners of previous Heart of Education cash awards are not eligible for three years following their award.

The 2023 Heart Of Education Awards will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023.

Yes, but past cash award winners are not eligible for three years after the year they received the award.

Finalists will receive a printed certificate honoring them as a Heart of Education finalist, as well as an envelope of gifts courtesy of our Heart of Education sponsors. The top 20 winners selected by the judges will each receive a custom medal and a cash gift of $5,000. Each winner’s school will also receive a cash gift of $1,000 to be used for a program selected by the winning teacher.

This is a community wide celebration for educators, and everyone who believes in the value of a great public education should participate. The Heart of Education Awards is not funded by CCSD and we encourage your participation. To find out more about the various sponsorship opportunities and to pledge your support, please send an email to heartofeducation@thesmithcenter.com