Aspiring Educators Conference

Join us for the 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference

Aspiring Educators meet each year at the end of June before NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly. The 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, from June 28 - July 1, 2026. Registration for the Aspiring Educators Conference will open in May 2026.

The purpose of the Aspiring Educators Conference is to offer future educators the opportunity to connect with their colleagues, learn about their profession, and act on important education issues affecting public schools and communities.

The conference is designed to support experiential learning that provides opportunities for NEA Aspiring Educators members and leaders to develop the knowledge and skills articulated in the NEA Leadership Competency Framework and to highlight and embody the Aspiring Educators Core Values.

Aspiring Educators attending the conference seek learning and information (such as, advocacy, social and emotional learning, and classroom practice) to take home and share with other members and their communities. 

Note: The Aspiring Educators Conference is for NEA members and leaders, regardless of experience level, membership type, or educator category. 

Aspiring Educators Request for Proposals

The Aspiring Educators Conference is member-led, value-driven, and goal-oriented. With that in mind, NEA members and leaders are invited to submit a proposal to present training sessions at the conference.

NEA views a Request for Proposal (RFP) as an application for a training session that directly supports the purpose of the Aspiring Educators Conference. The proposal must incorporate content from the NEA Leadership Competency Framework domains and clearly explain how the use of the content will help develop the knowledge and skills within the Aspiring Educators Core Values.  

Note: The deadline to submit a proposal is 11:59 PM ET on January 9, 2026. All applicants will be notified of selection by March 1, 2026.

We ask that you carefully review the additional guidance included below and utilize it as a reference as you complete your application. If you have questions about the submission, please contact Tierra Snead, [email protected] or Ann Nutter Coffman, [email protected]. 

To submit an RFP for the upcoming 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference, please use the link below:

RFP Submission Form

Download RFP Guidance

Preparing A Successful Proposal  

Proposals should offer engaging, interactive, solution-oriented sessions that enable participants to return to their universities and/or communities with innovative ideas, skills, and a plan of action for making a difference. The proposals should be written to articulate how the session will apply to Aspiring Educators.

Proposals should include presenter(s) information and a PDF to the submission form above with the following information: 

• Session Title
• Session Description (175 words or less)
• Session Objectives
  • Question to consider: By the end of the session, what do you hope the participants will know, do, or believe?
• All breakouts are expected to be interactive and action focused. How do you plan to engage participants and promote action-taking through your session?
  • Questions to consider: What learning methods (small group, discussion, storytelling, scenarios, role-playing, etc) will you use?
  • How will you set up participants to take action and apply their learning as a result of your session?
• How does your session apply to Aspiring Educators and the AE Core Values (Educator Quality, Community Engagement, Political Action, Social and Racial Justice)?
  • Question to consider: How does your session support Aspiring Educators' professional or leadership development?
• On which AE Core Value(s) (Educator Quality, Community Engagement, Political Action, Social & Racial Justice) does your session specifically focus? 
• On which NEA Leadership Competency or Competencies does your session specifically focus? Which specific Competency experience level (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3) is targeted? 
  • The seven Leadership Competencies are: Advocacy, Communication, Governance and Leadership, Leading Our Professions, Organizing, Strategy and Fiscal Health, Social and Emotional Intelligence. The three experience levels are: 1–Leading of Self; 2–Leading Others; 3–Leading the Organization.  
  • You find the descriptions of the seven Competencies here. 
• What steps have you taken to prepare to lead this session, including any research or prior presentations on the topic?
  • Question to consider: How did those experiences inform your current approach for this session?
• Provide a draft facilitator agenda for a 90-minute session.
  • Question to consider: How will you incorporate an introduction to the content, engaging learning methods, and action-taking during your session?

Important Information  

• A team of reviewers will evaluate and rate all session proposals. Provide enough details for reviewers to fully understand your plans.
• What is Required for the RFP: 
  • Be sure to fill out the presenter's form in its entirety and include the names of all potential co-presenters on the online application. You must complete this form even if you previously presented at an AEC or at another NEA conference.  
  • Presentation titles should not exceed the maximum 100 characters, including spaces and punctuations. 
  • Presentation descriptions should not exceed the maximum 1,000 characters, including spaces and punctuations. 
  • To maximize the number and diversity of presenters and perspectives, each is limited to two proposal submissions.  
    

What I Need for Travel and Related Conference Disclaimers:  

• NEA will pay for travel and hotel accommodations for two nights only for the primary presenter in accordance with our travel guidelines. (Note: Honoraria/fees and work release time are not reimbursable, and payment for substitutes is not covered.) NEA will not cover expenses for secondary presenter(s). 
• NEA will provide specific guidelines and information for travel arrangements and accommodations. NEA will also provide specific follow-up guidance and agreements for all presenters.  
• All presenters are required to register for the AEC by the registration deadline. Failure to register may result in your session being canceled and replaced.
• If your proposal is accepted, you will receive more information and can finalize session information after receiving your acceptance notice.
• If your proposal is accepted, you will receive more information and can finalize session information after receiving your acceptance notice. 

What to Expect Post-Submission:

• Primary presenters will be notified of selection or non-selection by early March and should share information with any secondary presenters. 
• Travel information will be sent out to selected primary presenters in May. Any secondary presenters will need to secure outside funding for travel and housing. 
• Registration for the AEC opens mid-May. Primary presenters will receive a link to register for AEC between mid-May and early June. 
• Selected presenters are expected to attend a pre-AEC Zoom in early June. Secondary presenters for selected sessions may be invited by the primary presenter to attend the Zoom meeting. 
• Travel days to the conference will depend on when your session is scheduled. If you choose to attend the entire conference, selected primary presenters will have to secure their own funding and contact the hotel to extend the reservation for any nights they stay in addition to the night(s) provided by NEA. 

Please review this guidance carefully and use it as a reference to complete your application. 

If you have questions about the submission, please contact Tierra Snead, [email protected] or Ann Nutter Coffman, [email protected].

The 6th Annual National GramAE Awards applications will open in March 2026!

The GramAE Awards Ceremony is an awards ceremony to celebrate the hard work of Aspiring Educators, State Organizers, Chapter Advisors, and elevate the advocacy of work supporting pre-service educators. The awards ceremony takes place annually at the NEA Aspiring Educators Conference. Check out last year's award categories: 

Individual Awards

Outstanding Local Leader Award

The Outstanding Local Leader Award highlights an individual who has acted as an integral leader in building their local chapter to achieve excellence. This leader has achieved, demonstrated, and inspired outstanding leadership to their local Aspiring Educators chapter. Nominees for this award must be in at least their second year in any Aspiring Educator leadership role (local, state, or national).

Friend of AE Award

The Friend of AE Award recognizes an individual, group, or organization, who have had a positive impact on the Aspiring Educators program within the past year. Nominees cannot be NEA national governance or national/state Association staff. State affiliate governance are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Outstanding State Leader Award

The Outstanding State Leader Award highlights an individual who has acted as an integral leader in building their state chapter to achieve excellence. This leader has achieved, demonstrated, and inspired outstanding leadership to their state Aspiring Educators chapter. Nominees for this award must be in at least their second year in any Aspiring Educator leadership role (local, state, or national).

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding initiative and dedication in engaging with local and/or state leaders to better their local and/or state organization within their first year serving in an Aspiring Educator leadership role (local, state, or national).

Chapter Awards

Emerging Chapter Award

The Emerging Chapter Recognition Award highlights the work of emerging chapters (local chapters within the first year of charter) and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Local Excellence Award

The Local Excellence Recognition Award highlights the work of local chapters and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Outstanding Community College Chapter Award  

The Outstanding Community College Award recognizes the work of a community college chapter that demonstrates the practices of the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Distinguished Local Advisor Award

The Distinguished Local Advisor Award recognizes an individual for their dedication and service to the NEA Aspiring Educators by serving as a Chapter Advisor at the local level.

State Awards

State Excellence Award

The State Excellence Recognition Award highlights the work of exceptional Aspiring Educator state affiliates and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Distinguished State Organizer Award

The Distinguished State Organizer Award recognizes an individual for their exceptional dedication and service to the NEA Aspiring Educators through their role as the State-Wide Organizer.  

Other Awards

CREATE Grant Excellence Award

The CREATE Grant Award recognizes a local or statewide project that utilized the CREATE Grant to further engage and support members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Project of the Year Award

The Project of the Year Award recognizes Aspiring Educators within a state or local who are in progress or have completed a project that aligns and meets the goals of NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).