Honoring educators who bring citizenship to life.
What Teacher of the Year Is
The Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award has honored outstanding K–12 educators since 1999. This award was named for former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired Quartermaster General Larry Maher, two leaders who believed civic education was inseparable from veteran service.
More than 70 teachers have been recognized since its founding. The VFW Foundation supports the awards and recognition that make national-level honor possible for educators who rarely seek the spotlight.
How the Contest Works
Nominations move through four levels: Post → District → Department (state) → National. State-level winners advance to national judging, where three finalists, one per grade band, are selected as national honorees.
Nomination deadline: October 31 to a local VFW Post.
Who Is Eligible
Any K–12 classroom teacher whose curriculum focuses on citizenship education for at least half the school day is eligible for nomination. Previous national winners are not eligible to be nominated again.
Who Can Nominate
Peers, supervisors, and interested community members may submit nominations. Self-nominations and nominations from relatives are not accepted.
How Nominations Are Judged
Each nomination is scored on a 100-point scale across four equal criteria.
Citizenship modeling and community involvement
Innovative approach to citizenship education
Resource development
Passion for the work
What Winners Receive
Three teachers are honored annually — one for each grade band (K–5, 6–8, 9–12). Each national winner receives:
- $1,000 for professional development
- $1,000 for their school
- Two plaques (one personal, one for the school)
- All-expense-paid trip to the VFW national conference
Recent Winners
The 2025-26 national honorees reflect the range of educators this award is built to recognize:
Elizabeth Lee
Ranson, WV — STEAM teacher who is dedicated to building a stronger community.
Tammy Gipson
McPherson, KS — Strong desire to bring the world and history to life in her classroom.
Jeron Velasco
Cibecue, AZ— Recognized for civic education at the high school level.
Get Involved
Corporate supporters in the education sector help fund recognition and professional development for honorees nationwide.