Cato Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award

The Cato Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Awards recognize exceptionally creative teachers who have a distinguished career of more than 15 years teaching the arts, sciences or history or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the Arts, Sciences or History into the core curriculum.

Nominations for the 2026 CATO Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Awards are now being accepted! Three $5,000 awards will be presented through the support of ASC’s CATO Excellence in Teaching Endowment, with awards announced in spring 2026.

Click here to access the nomination form. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 27th, 2026.

Teachers, principals, school administrators, parents, students or other community members may nominate teachers for consideration. Teachers can also self-nominate.

Review Process

Based on a review of nominations received by the deadline, up to three (3) finalists in each discipline will be selected to complete a full application and final review by the selection panel.

Finalists and their nominator(s) will be notified by mid-March and the following information will be required to be submitted by late March:

Biographical Information
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Statement of Teaching Philosophy (2 pages max)
Three (3) Letters of Recommendation from among the following: school administrator, teaching colleague, parent, classroom collaborator, current or former student or community member.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible teachers must be a Pre-K through 12th grade teacher working for (or retired within the last 2 years from) a public or independent school in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln or Union counties in North Carolina or Lancaster or York counties in SC.
Nominees should exhibit a career marked by innovation and excellence in teaching focused on the Arts, Sciences or History or creative infusion of the Arts, Sciences or History into the core curriculum; school and community leadership; and dedication to the field of education.
Nominees may not have any spousal or familial relationship to the nominator.
Educators who have received a CATO Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award are not eligible for re-nomination in either CATO award category.

Watch the brief informational video below to learn more!