WANTED: All-Star Educators
Nominate a colleague for a professional award for this school year, and tell us about all the great things they’re doing in #AltEd.
Recommend one of your innovative and successful programs for the Exemplary Program award. Click either of those links to get started.
Nominations are due by March 1st, so don’t wait!
Awards include:
- Exemplary Programs,
- Superintendent of the Year,
- Administrator of the Year,
- Teacher of the Year,
- Officer of the Year,
- Classified Employee of the Year,
- Counselor or Support Person of the Year,
- Student Essay and Design winners.
For your students, we have our annual essay contest and a design contest to design the cover of the Conference program. We will also be showcasing student art at the Conference, and you can arrange to bring your students’ work — learn more about the student showcase here.
Awards dinner:
These professional awards will be presented at the 2026 Conference in Burbank on Friday evening, May 1st, during the Professional Awards and Exemplary Programs Dinner. The event will include dinner with a speaker, special guests, awards for personnel, essays, student art, Region Basket, and a vendor raffle/auction with prizes. Get dinner tickets
Gala Venue Announced
The Model Schools Awards Gala dinner will be held: Saturday, May 2nd @ Autry Museum of the American West. At the Gala dinner, newly-selected Model Schools for 2026 will be awarded and recognized in person. Attire is evening casual.
Tentative schedule: busing from the hotel to the gala starts as early as 5pm; President’s reception 6pm; dinner at 7pm, with the awards ceremony to follow. Venue address: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (in Griffith Park across from the Los Angeles Zoo). Get gala tickets
What You Should Know
1. Conference 2026 — sign up to attend April 30 – May 3, in Burbank, California. Register now, by April 1st to make the deadline for badge printing.2. Exhibit your company — we have a variety of special vendor packages to showcase your products and services.
3. Call for presenters — don’t wait to apply.
4. Award nominations — due March 1st.
5. Exemplary Programs — make your nominations by March 1st.
6. Meet and Greet social — Celebrate with us with food, fun and fellowship on Thursday, April 30th at the Marriott Los Angeles Burbank (Conference venue) from 7pm – 9pm. DJ and line dancing. Raffles and games. No host bar. Wear your favorite western attire. Free for Conference attendees!
7. Tentative Conference schedule — we’ve posted an outline of the weekend below.
8. Featured school visits & bus trips — choose from two bus trip options below, and sign up here.
Trip option #1: featured school visits — see alternative education schools in action, on a guided tour. Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026. Includes school visits, lunch and bus transportation. Destinations to be visited may change depending on number of attendees and the schools. Transportation to and from the Conference venue is provided. Pickup will be at the Conference hotel venue at 8am, leaving at 8:30am, with the trip ending no later than 5pm.
Trip option #2: Getty Museum visit — see the famous museum and grounds at the Getty Center in Los Angeles with our group. Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026. Includes lunch and bus transportation. Transportation to and from the Conference venue is provided. Pickup will be at the Conference hotel venue at 8am, leaving at 8:30am, with the trip ending some time between 4-5pm.
Images from the Autry Museum website, used with permission for our event.