Mission Viejo, CA – The Association of American Educators Foundation (AAEF), a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the mission of the Association of American Educators (AAE), a national professional association serving educators in all fifty states, is pleased to announce the winners of national teacher scholarships and classroom grants for the spring 2026. Eleven educators have been selected as recipients of scholarship or grant awards of up to $500 toward realizing their professional training and continuing education goals and for developing student-focused classroom projects, content, and activities. The AAE Foundation National Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Grant Program was established to encourage professional excellence for all educators and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to educators through a competitive biannual selection process.

“These outstanding educators demonstrate a deep commitment to inspiring student success through creativity, innovation, and dedication to their classrooms,” noted the executive director of the Association of American Educators and the AAE Foundation, Colin Sharkey. “Their efforts reflect a passion for continuous professional growth and a commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for every student. AAE Foundation is proud to recognize and congratulate this year’s grant recipients for their contributions to their students and educational communities.”

The spring 2026 award winners are:

• Gloria Close, Sedalia, Missouri

• Rebecca Fenig, Granada Hills, California

• Chelsey Liess, Grand Island, Nebraska

• Kriston Peterson, Douglasville, Georgia

• Kathryn Phillips, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

• Katherine Regis, Elizabethtown, Kentucky

• Jeanie Sanders, Powell, Wyoming

• Medley Sapp, Las Vegas, Nevada

• Laryssa Thomas, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

• Bryan Vincent, Viera, Florida

• Jennifer Young, Spanish Fork, Utah

For over thirty years, the AAE Foundation has supported educators’ classroom needs and the advancement of their professional training through this impactful program. The AAE Foundation National Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Grant Program is open to all full-time educators. Applications are considered and evaluated twice a year. The next deadline for online submissions is Thursday, October 1, 2026.

The Association of American Educators Foundation (AAEF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides teachers and leaders with opportunities, information, and funds to reform and improve the education of America’s youth. AAEF was established to support the activities and mission of the Association of American Educators (AAE)—the largest national, nonunion, professional educator organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to educator empowerment and advocacy—promoting professionalism, collaboration, and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE is committed to a teaching profession that is student oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE serves members in all fifty states and welcomes professionals from all school types. Membership includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources, and many other benefits. Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, student teachers, university professors, and supporters are all eligible to join today and can learn more at joinaae.org.  

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