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PrizeWhere: NationalNational: schools in any US state$Who gets the money: Goes to a teacherOpen

National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)

Sylvia Shugrue Award (elementary) and Maitland P. Simmons Award (new teachers)

Two NSTA science teacher awards: $1,000 plus conference money for an elementary teacher with a strong inquiry lesson, and up to $1,000 for a new teacher to attend the national conference.

Amount
Shugrue: $1,000 plus up to $500 for the national conference. Simmons: up to $1,000 to attend the national conference
Can a for-profit school apply?
?Unclear: ask the funder
Deadline
Dec 18, 2026 (58 days left)
Who this fits
Private school · MicroschoolScience teachers apply, and must be NSTA members. The rules don't say public or private (NSTA's Shell award names private schools). Fits a private school or microschool teacher. Homeschool co-ops are not named.?Religious schools: not stated, ask the funder
New schools
Not stated for new schools
Where
National: schools in any US state
Last checked
Oct 21, 2026on nsta.org
Apply on the funder’s site↗(opens nsta.secure-platform.com in a new tab)Add to calendarAdd deadline to my calendar

Unconfirmed: check with the funder

We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.

  • ?Whether private, microschool or homeschool teachers qualify (not stated)
  • ?Simmons cutoff: the page says both 'less than five years' and 'first five years'

How to apply

  1. Step 1: Join NSTA if you are not a member
  2. Step 2: Shugrue: prepare a 3-page interdisciplinary inquiry lesson plan with student work, 2 letters of support and a CV
  3. Step 3: Apply on the NSTA awards portal by December 18, 2026

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Elementary school teachers (grades K–6) Applicants must be a full-time teacher with a minimum of five years of experience.”
In the funder’s own words, from nsta.org, checked Oct 21, 2026.

Shugrue: one full-time K-6 teacher with 5+ years, NSTA member, with an interdisciplinary inquiry lesson plan. Simmons: NSTA members in their first five years of full-time teaching (the page also says less than five years), for conference costs only. You can win only one NSTA award a year. The Yager award is not open to Arkansas this cycle, so it is left out.

  • NSTA member in good standing
  • Shugrue: full-time K-6 teacher, 5+ years, lesson plan, 2 letters of support, CV
  • Simmons: in first five years of full-time teaching

Timing

2027 awards cycle: submit by midnight Hawaii time on Friday, December 18, 2026.

Not legal or tax advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

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Homebook Funding Helper

This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

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