Recognition and Awards Programs

The Department of Education hopes that by recognizing the state's many excellent educators, more people will consider a career in education, and local communities will invest enough resources to attract the highest caliber professionals. It is only with such educators that our children will learn the skills so necessary to succeed. Nothing touches more lives, or gives more promise to the future than education. More than ever before, high-quality educators are critical to the future of our community and our country.

Celebrating Leadership in Education

The goal of the awards program is to shine a positive spotlight on the achievements of these quality educators. In honoring them, we recognize the lasting power and potential of great teachers, and the teaching profession. Educators like these, and those who will follow in their footsteps, give us great hope for the future of American education, and America's children.

Awards for Educators

Although research shows that there is no greater factor in successful student learning than the quality of teachers in our schools, the work of highly-regarded educators is not always recognized. This is why we appreciate each and every effort made by our state's educators to make New Hampshire a center of education excellence in the country.

These awards build community awareness of our state's finest educators, while providing positive messages about the teaching profession.

NH Teacher of the Year - A Teacher of the Year candidate should demonstrate leadership and be exceptionally dedicated and knowledgeable. Candidates must be licensed educators with classroom experience at any state-approved or accredited school, pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, and intend to continue in the teaching profession. The purpose of the program is to select a teacher who is capable of speaking for and energizing the teaching profession and representing the positive contributions of all teachers statewide. Selecting a Teacher of the Year is an exceptional way to celebrate the many outstanding and dedicated people teaching in New Hampshire schools.
Blue Ribbon Schools - The No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching - PAEMST are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science. The PAEMST program also honors teachers for their dedication to improving education and inspiring students in mathematics and science. In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching. This program acknowledges educators who are models in both their classrooms and in their communities.

New Hampshire EDies

The New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards Program recognizes New Hampshire schools and individuals who meet high standards of excellence. The criteria used in selecting outstanding individuals to be honored are determined by their sponsoring organizations. The awards for the outstanding elementary, middle, and secondary schools are determined by criteria developed by the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards Board of Directors and applied by selection committees composed of experienced New Hampshire educators and community leaders.

Opportunities for Students

National Seal of Biliteracy Award - The National Seal of Biliteracy is an award given in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) - The National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) is an innovative and highly successful summer science honors program for two high-achieving high school students from each state in the nation and others around the world. Delegates to the NYSC represent the highest levels of academic achievement in science and mathematics.
New Hampshire Scholars Program - New Hampshire Scholars is a community-based program that encourages students to take a more rigorous Core Course of Study in high school. It is based on a partnership between a community’s local business leaders and its school district. New Hampshire Scholars is federally-funded through the New Hampshire Department of Education.
United States Senate Youth Program - Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students - two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity - to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, the foundation grants each of the 104 student delegates a $10,000 college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program - Each school is invited to nominate up to 3 students (1 male and 1 female for general) and one student to be included as a candidate for recognition for excellence in CTE. We encourage you to nominate students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship but who might not otherwise be nominated through the current SAT/ACT, Arts, or CTE recognition processes. All high school seniors graduating between January and August of 2025 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible. The candidates will go through the application process, and, as in the past, the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, DC.