The Virginia Department of Education is currently accepting nominations for The Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity! This statewide award will recognize individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the advancement of educational equity. Please consider nominating an educator, policy maker, school leader, or stakeholder group whose service and leadership is impacting equity outcomes in the state.

The Virginia Department of Education’s equity framework, Navigating EdEquityVA, outlines the state's commitment to eliminating the predictability of student outcomes based on race, gender, zip code, ability, socio-economic status and/or languages spoken at home. Every day, all across the Commonwealth, countless individuals and organizations work tirelessly in various capacities to help achieve this goal. The Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity recognizes those efforts and continues Mrs. Peake's legacy.

All nomination materials for the 2021 Mary Peake Award must be submitted online by May 14, 2021 by 5:00 PM EST. Winners of the award will be honored virtually at the annual Summer Equity Conference on June 17, 2021. For more information about the nomination process and selection criteria, visit the Virginia is for Learners website. For direct access to the nomination form, click here.

Nominations are accepted in the following categories:

• Educator (Teacher, Paraprofessional, Support Staff, Specialist, Professor or Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Staff, etc.)
• Policy Maker (General Assembly Member, School Board Member, Elected Official, etc.)
• School Leader (Principal, Vice-principal, Superintendent, Central Office Staff, etc.)
• Organization/Stakeholder Group/School or Division Team (e.g. Grade Level Team, Professional Learning Community (PLC), Educational Support Organization, Out of School Time Provider, Advocacy Organization, etc.)

If you have any further questions, or otherwise require assistance, please contact Jenné Nurse in the Office of Equity and Community Engagement at the Virginia Department of Education at jenne.nurse@doe.virginia.gov.