Peter Jennings Award Peter Jennings Award

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Peter Jennings Award -leaders

The Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership is presented annually to a Teach For America alumni (or team of alumni) who embodies our core values and whose work has led to significant progress toward educational equity and excellence in the last year.

About the Peter Jennings Award

Established in 2007, this award is named as a tribute to the late journalist Peter Jennings, whose dedication to expanding educational opportunity was so important to advancing our cause.

Award winners and finalists represent a wide range of fields that impact education, including school leaders, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, and elected officials.

Finalists are nominated by Teach For America’s executive leadership team, fellow alumni, staff, and external partners. The winner of the award receives a prize of $10,000 in addition to local and national recognition.

Selection Criteria

We are looking to elevate stories of alumni who are leading 'systems change' in established policies and/or practices within and across institutions. 

When nominating a TFA alum or team of alumni, please consider the extent to which they have met the following criteria:

  • Significant progress: Each candidate or team has made a significant impact on an issue of critical importance to realizing educational equity in pursuit of systems change.
  • Breakthrough year:  The current award year was a breakthrough year for each candidate or team's work.
  • Core values: Each candidate or team embodies Teach For America’s core values.

Nomination Information

2021 award Finalists and Winner will be announced in late April 2023.

Questions?

Email us for information about this opportunity.

Read About Our 2020 Winner and Finalists

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Alumni

Peter Jennings Award Winners Work to Realize the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future

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Previous Winners & Finalists