Gautier teacher announced as NEA Foundation selection of educators for one of public education’s top honors

November 2, 2023

WXXV Staff,

Washington, D.C. — The NEA Foundation today announced that Louise Smith, Mississippi’s Teacher of the Year and Gautier Middle School band director, is among five educators who will be presented with the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, one of public education’s top honors, at the Salute to Excellence in Education next spring.

The Foundation also will host the premiere screening of documentary films about the awardees’ impact inside and outside the classroom during the event.

The 2024 awardees are:

Louise Smith, a band director at Gautier Middle School, Miss., nominated by the Mississippi Association of Educators.
Seth Brady, a social studies educator at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., nominated by the Illinois Education Association.
Harlee Harvey, a K-8 educator at Tikiġaq School in Point Hope, Alaska, nominated by NEA-Alaska.
Carol Pierobon Hofer, an English as a New Language educator at Fox Hill Elementary School in Indianapolis, Ind., nominated by the Indiana State Teachers Association.
Kimberly Johnson, an interventionist and resource educator at Auburn Junior High School in Auburn, Ala., nominated by the Alabama Education Association.

An expert panel evaluates and selects awardees based on their exceptional skill in the classroom, attention to equity and diversity, engagement of families and communities, commitment to ongoing professional development, and advocacy for the profession.

“These educators are beacons of inspiration in their diverse school communities across the country and beyond,” said Sara A. Sneed, president and CEO of The NEA Foundation. “They represent the very best in public education and have made a significant impact not only in their schools but also on the educator profession. We look forward to celebrating them and their service to students, families, and their fellow educators at the Salute to Excellence in Education.”

“The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence winners exemplify what it means to be dedicated to your craft, and we are inspired by the passion of these individuals,” said Marita Zuraitis, president of the Horace Mann Educators Foundation board of directors. “The Horace Mann Educators Foundation is committed to supporting educators who continuously explore ways to reach every one of their students and show them there are many pathways to success.”

For more than 20 years, The NEA Foundation and Horace Mann have celebrated outstanding educators from around the country with this recognition. Each 2024 honoree will receive a $10,000 award.

The NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education and the Awards for Teaching Excellence are presented with support from NEA Member Benefits, Horace Mann Educators Foundation, Bank of America, American Fidelity, and FNBO. Educator awardees will be celebrated at the Salute on May 3, 2024. To learn more about the 2024 awardees, visit our website at www.neafoundation.org.