During the third annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) awarded nearly $5 million to schools and educators across the state. This black-tie event is focused on celebrating and elevating the work of Indiana’s educators as they support student learning.
The gala, which was hosted in Indianapolis on Friday, September 6, brought together nearly 550 educators and guests from across the state. The event recognized the 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Indiana’s 2023 Milken Educator Award recipients and other dedicated educators from across the state. The event also recognized schools that are excelling in key areas such as literacy (science of reading), STEM and rethinking high school.
The largest award of the evening, Excellence in Next Level Educational Experiences and Opportunities, recognizes the school or district making significant strides in preparing students for their future, which includes focusing on literacy, STEM and college and career readiness.
IDOE also awarded districts with up to $250,000 for excellence in areas including early literacy, STEM, student pathways, college readiness, community collaboration and educator professional development. The size of each financial award is proportional to the respective school or district’s total student population. Awards must be used to sustain and expand the school’s current, impactful programming, to support teachers who lead this work, as well as to mentor other schools to drive additional, innovative strategies through a community of practice.
Additionally, 10 outstanding educators were awarded with $2,500 each for their commitment to areas such as professional growth, use of technology in the classroom and cultivating community partnerships.
Locally, the 2024 Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala school/district awardee includes Ryan Rust from Plymouth Community School Corporation who was awarded the Lifetime Educator Excellence Award.
