AFS-USA Global Awards

AFS-USA believes that we must all work together to create active global citizens. Educators and schools are great partners in helping our next generation achieve global and intercultural competence. To that end, celebrating those educators and schools who are going above and beyond in their classrooms and buildings is important.  

AFS-USA has created two distinct awards to celebrate both individual educators and schools or districts that have made global engagement and intercultural learning a part of their everyday instruction and school environment. We hope to showcase an educator and school every year that will inspire others to weave culture and global thinking into their learning environments. Please see the links below to view previous winners.

2024 Global Educator Award Winner
2024 Global School Award Winner
2023 Award Winners

2025 Global Educator Award

The AFS-USA Global Educator Award is designed to recognize individuals in the education profession who have demonstrated excellence in integrating cultural diversity, global competence, and internationalized concepts into their instruction or activity planning with the aim of cultivating global citizens. 

How It Works:

Nominators submit a packet of materials demonstrating an educator’s experience integrating global competence into their classroom and school community. Nominations are due by 11:59pm Eastern Time on November 25, 2024. Educators may self-nominate. Nominees are asked to submit their full application by December 8, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time to complete their portfolio for review.

The winning educator will be determined by the AFS-USA School Outreach Advisory Group and will receive an invitation for one representative and a guest* to attend, participate, and accept their award in person at the Spring 2025 Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Conference in Northern Virginia from March 7-10, 2025.

Global Educator Award Rules:

  1. Participation in, and registration for the Global Educator Award is free. No purchase is necessary.  
  2. In order to participate, a nominated educator must:
    1. Be a current Secondary School Teacher, Administrator, Counselor, or Instructional Coach (“Educator”). 
    2. Be at least 21 years of age. 
    3. Currently reside in the U.S. 
  3. All award submissions must be in PDF form and follow the page limits as indicated below.
  4. Nominations must be submitted through the online submission form and include all required materials. Once the nomination has been submitted, nominees will receive a link to submit the required materials for their application.
  5. Materials for NOMINATION include:  
    1. Professional reference letter speaking to global engagement/competence in or out of the school building (Max. 2 pages)  
    2. Nomination letter (from nominator- either self or other person), speaking to school and/or community engagement with multicultural ideas/activities (Max. 2 pages) 
    3. Supplemental artifacts (optional) such as photos, news articles, event programs, presentations, social media posts, screen captures, etc. (Max. 5 pages)
  6. Required materials for APPLICATION include:
    1. Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae (Max. 4 pages)
    2. Personal statement (Max. 2 pages total) What is the nominee’s philosophy on global competence/intercultural learning in the classroom?
    3. Letter of recommendation from a current or former parent or student that can speak to the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of the educator as outlined in the rubric (Max. 2 pages)
    4. Lesson plans/building activity plans that incorporate global competence (Max. 3 pages)
    5. Supplemental artifacts such as photos, news articles, event programs, presentations, screen captures, etc. (Max. 5 pages)
    6. Professional photo (high resolution preferred)
  7. 7. Nominations are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 25, 2024. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Late submissions will not be eligible.  
  8. The entrant(s) whose submission draws the highest average score according to this rubric will be declared the winner and be invited to accept the award in person at the 2025 ECA conference in Northern Virginia. See Terms and Conditions for more information.
  9. The winning educator will be notified by January 31, 2025. Other entrants will be notified of their status by mid-February.

*The guest should be a person that you are comfortable sharing a hotel room with and who has an interest in attending some of the conference sessions.

Nominate an educator

FAQs

  • A current secondary teacher, administrator, or instructional coach who is at least 21 years of age and who currently resides in the U.S. 

2025 Global School Award

The AFS-USA Global School Award is designed to recognize a school or school district that demonstrates a commitment to cultural diversity, global competence, and curriculum internationalization as these practices are in alignment with the AFS-USA mission of creating a more just and peaceful world through intercultural learning and exchange. 

How It Works:

Nominators submit a packet of information (see below) demonstrating a school’s commitment to global education and the integration of global competence concepts into the everyday experiences of students, teachers, and the local community. Nominations are by November 25, 2024 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Schools may self-nominate. Nominees are asked to submit their application by December 8, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time to finalize their portfolio for review.

The winning school will be determined by the AFS-USA School Outreach Advisory Group and will receive an invitation for one representative and a guest* to attend, participate, and accept their award in person at the Spring 2025 Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Conference in Northern Virginia from March 7-10, 2025.

Global School Award Rules:  

  1. Participation in and registration for the AFS-USA Global School Award is free. No purchase is necessary.  
  2. In order to participate, nominated schools must:
    1. Be an accredited secondary school, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    2. Designate a staff member as a “School Representative” who is at least 21 years of age and who currently resides in the U.S. The School Representative must be able to travel to Northern Virginia to participate in the awards ceremony if the nominated school wins.
  3. All award submissions must be in PDF form and follow the page limits as indicated below.
  4. Nominations and applications must be submitted through the online submission form and include all required materials. Once the nomination has been submitted, nominees will receive a link to submit the required materials for their application.
  5. Materials for NOMINATION include: 
    1. Copy of the school’s or school district’s Mission, Vision, Core Values or Strategic Plan that expresses value in the global preparedness of students.
    2. Letter of nomination that speaks to the school’s engagement with multicultural groups as well as ideas, activities, and opportunities for students and staff with intercultural thinking and learning with the aim of enriching the curriculum. (Max. 2 pages)
    3. Supplemental artifacts (optional) such as, photos, news articles, event programs, presentations, social media posts, staff bulletins, screen captures, etc. that showcase global learning, experiences, and engagement. (Max. 5 pages) *Please ensure permissions have been acquired for any photos as photos may be used in promotions and/or on the AFS-USA Website.
  6. Required materials for APPLICATION include:
    1. School Data/Demographics This document should be completed and included as the cover page of the application.
    2. Letter of recommendation from a current or former parent or student that can speak to global engagement opportunities and/or the internationalization of curriculum that the student has experienced and its impact. (Max. 2 pages)
    3. School/District event plan, summary, or promotional handout that incorporates global competence or multicultural engagement for students, staff, and/or community members.
    4. Supplemental artifacts (photos, news articles, event programs, presentations, staff bulletins, screen captures, etc.) that showcase global learning, experiences, and engagement. (Max. 5 pages) *Please ensure permissions have been acquired for any photos as photos may be used in promotions and/or on the AFS-USA Website.
    5. Photo of the school or school building sign (high resolution preferred)
  7. Nominations are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 8, 2024. Late submissions will not be eligible.
  8. Following the submission deadline, all eligible entries will be evaluated by at least 3 members of the School Outreach Advisory Group.
  9. The entrant(s) whose submission draws the highest average score according to this rubric will be declared the winner and be invited to accept the award in person at the 2024 ECA conference in Northern Virginia. See Terms and Conditions for more information. 
  10. The winning school will be notified by January 31, 2025. Other entrants will be notified of their status by mid-February.

*The guest should be a person that you are comfortable sharing a hotel room with and who has an interest in attending some of the conference sessions.

Nominate a school

FAQs

  • An accredited secondary school or school district as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Can’t find what you need? Let us know how we can help you!

Learn More