Principal, Educator & Counselor Award Nominations

We need your help! Nominate excellent principals, educators, counselors and staff for three awards this spring in the form below. The awards recognize and honor outstanding Seattle Public Schools staff who have demonstrated success in advancing educational justice and racial equity in their school communities and classrooms. Combined, the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, the Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award and the Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award total nearly $75,000 in endowed grants awarded for the Seattle Public Schools community. Community nominations play a major role in selecting awardees as part of a process which also considers school-level data. Award winners will be announced later this spring.

Nomination Details

The deadline to submit a nomination for any of the three awards is by midnight on Friday, March 14, 2025, AKA Pi Day.
When submitting a nomination below, additional questions will appear below for each award checkbox selected.
You may nominate someone for a single award or nominate multiple individuals for multiple awards all in one submission.
We recommend drafting responses in a separate document and copying/pasting into the form as to not lose any written responses.

Learn More About Each Award

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence annually recognizes and honors two outstanding Seattle Public Schools principals who have demonstrated success in promoting educational justice and racial equity at their school. The award commemorates Thomas B. Foster, a prominent Seattle attorney who displayed a strong personal commitment to public education. All recipients are publicly recognized and awarded a $25,000 grant to be utilized at their school. The selection process requires the following criteria to be eligible for the award:

Being nominated by a colleague or community member(s)
Promoting educational justice and racial equity at their school
School level data representing principal commitment and effectiveness
Having served at least three years in their current school

See previous Foster Award recipients here!

The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award

The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award is given annually to multiple teachers, counselors or staff in Seattle Public Schools who promote educational justice and racial equity at their school. The award honors Mr. Philip B. Swain, a former teacher who was a passionate advocate for public education throughout his life. All recipients are publicly recognized and awarded a $3,000 grant to be utilized for continuing professional development, for travel associated with such development or for classroom projects or supplies. The selection process requires the following criteria to be eligible for the award:

Being nominated by a colleague or community member(s)
Promoting educational justice and racial equity at their school
Having worked in the district for at least three years
Teaching in grades 6-12
Teaching at a Title I school

See Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award recipients here!

The Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award

The Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award is given annually to multiple Seattle Public Schools science teachers who promote educational justice, racial equity and hands-on STEM learning at their school. This award honors Ms. Adrienne Weaver, a former educator who had a love for teaching and science and believed in hands-on learning. Recipients are publicly recognized and awarded a $3,000 grant to be used at the awardee’s discretion. The selection process requires the following criteria to be eligible for the award:

Being nominated by a colleague or community member(s)
Having worked in the district for at least three years
Teaching in grades K-8
Teaching science or STEM content
Teaching at a Title I school

See Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award recipients here!

Submit a Nomination Below

Nominator Information

We need just a few, brief pieces of information about yourself as the nominator before selecting what award(s) you would like to nominate.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

I Am A…(Required)

Please select all that apply.

SPS Student

SPS Educator or Staff

SPS Parent

SPS Administrator

Community Member

I want to nominate someone for:(Required)

Additional nomination questions will appear below for each checkbox selected. You may nominate someone for a single award or nominate individuals for multiple awards in one submission. Learn more about each award at https://www.alliance4ed.org/educator-awards/

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence (Principal, $25,000)

The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award (Teacher or Counselor, $2,500)

The Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award (Science Teacher, $5,000)

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence recognizes and honors two outstanding Seattle Public Schools principals who have demonstrated success in promoting educational justice and racial equity at their school. The selection process considers colleague and community nominations, school data, and principal commitment and effectiveness. Principals must have served at least three years in their current school to be eligible for the award. All recipients are publicly recognized and awarded a $25,000 grant to be utilized at their school. The award commemorates Thomas B. Foster, a prominent Seattle attorney who displayed a strong personal commitment to public education.

Principal's Name(Required)

First Last

School(Required)

What is your relationship to the principal?(Required)

Please note if you know the principal from school, as colleagues, as a friend, etc.

How long have you known the principal?(Required)

How has this PRINCIPAL furthered educational justice and racial equity for students?(Required)

Please keep this short to just a few sentences and use the following questions to share details and stories.

What initiative(s) or strategie(s) has this PRINCIPAL implemented that have specifically advanced equity for students, ensuring that all learners have the support and opportunities they need to succeed?(Required)

Can you share an example of how this PRINCIPAL actively engages or inspires students, staff, families and/or the community in promoting racial justice?(Required)

Can you share an example of how this PRINCIPAL has reflected on their own biases and/or demonstrated growth as a leader?(Required)

The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award

The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award is given annually to up to five teachers and/or counselors in Seattle Public Schools who promote educational justice and racial equity at their school. Nominations are open to teachers and counselors who: teach in grades 6-12, have been with the district for at least three years, and teach at a Title I school. A stipend of $2,500 accompanies each award, and may be used at the awardee’s discretion for continuing professional development, for travel associated with such development, and for classroom projects or supplies. The public can nominate teachers and counselors for the award. The award honors Mr. Philip B. Swain, a former teacher who was a passionate advocate for public education throughout his life.

Educator or Counselor's Name(Required)

First Last

School(Required)

Nominee's Job Title/Role(Required)

What is your relationship to the educator/counselor?(Required)

Please note if you know them from school, as colleagues, as a friend, etc.

How long have you known the educator/counselor?(Required)

How has this EDUCATOR/COUNSELOR furthered educational justice and racial equity for students?

Please keep this short to just a few sentences and use the following questions to share details and stories.

What initiative(s) or strategie(s) has this EDUCATOR/COUNSELOR implemented that have specifically advanced equity for students, ensuring that all learners have the support, inclusive environment, and opportunities they need to succeed?(Required)

Can you provide an example of how this EDUCATOR/COUNSELOR has actively reflected on their own biases and demonstrated personal or professional growth?(Required)

[suggested minimum 150 words]

The Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award

The Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award is given on an annual basis to a Seattle Public Schools science teacher in grades K-8 who has been with the district for at least three years and teaches at a Title I school. A stipend of $5,000 accompanies each award, and may be used at the awardee’s discretion. This award was established to honor Ms. Adrienne Weaver, a former educator who had a love for teaching and science and believed in hands-on learning.

Science Teacher's Name(Required)

First Last

School(Required)

What is your relationship to the science teacher?(Required)

Please note if you know them from school, as colleagues, as a friend, etc.

How long have you known the science teacher?(Required)

How has this SCIENCE EDUCATOR furthered educational justice and racial equity for students?

Please keep this short to just a few sentences and use the following questions to share details and stories.

What initiative(s) or strategie(s) has this SCIENCE EDUCATOR implemented to increase access to hands-on learning or experiential opportunities in science for students underrepresented in STEM fields?(Required)

Can you provide an example of how this SCIENCE EDUCATOR has actively worked to expand science education beyond their own classroom?(Required)