Awards & Grants

The Pooley Foundation Convention Grant has been created to support ELA teachers who have not attended a convention before to attend the WEMTA convention from March 14-16, 2027.

Each year WCTE selects two senior English education students to receive the Outstanding Student Teacher Award.  Winners will be honored with a certificate and a one-year membership in WCTE.  In 2026-27, recipients will be recognized at the WEMTA conference in March.

The award recipient receives a certificate, free registration at the WCTE state convention, and formal recognition of the Nancy Hoefs Memorial Award at a convention session.

Full-time teachers in their first permanent position are eligible to be nominated. 

The Secondary Section of the NCTE recognizes and celebrates high school classroom teachers, and WCTE will nominate one statewide winner for this national award who exemplifies excellence as an English Language Arts teacher. The winner will be recognized at the WEMTA convention in March, as well as the NCTE convention in November.

This award shall be presented to a Wisconsin English teacher who creates a learning environment that provides a safe space for all students, regardless of any label and goes beyond the classroom to advocate for inclusion in the community, promoting equity in all areas, from tolerance to social justice among others traits.

This award recognizes an educator or group who has been an advocate for expression free from censorship and for humane communication.  It is designed to acknowledge the work done by educators who teach and extol the tenets of free speech and who urge responsible, humane and caring communication.

The Chisholm Award is given to English educators for their meritorious service to the profession.