Omaha Teacher Headed to Washington for National Recognition

Lee Perez, an English as a second language (ESL) educator at Alice Buffet Magnet Middle School, will soon travel to Washington D.C. to be recognized as one of only five public school educators to receive one of public education’s highest honors, the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. The award, sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, recognizes educators for their exceptional skill in the classroom, attention to equity and diversity, engagement of families and communities, commitment to ongoing professional development, and advocacy for the profession.

The recognition will occur at The NEA Foundation's annual Salute to Excellence in Education on May 5 as it honors exceptional educators and friends of public education from around the country. An exciting element of the event will occur when Perez and the other Horace Mann awardees will learn which one of them will be named the NEA Member Benefits awardee.

"It has been an honor to teach English language learners in my classroom from all over the world," Perez said. "To help educate them to be the future democratic builders of this nation has been my privilege. Learning about different languages, cultures, values and traditions from my students has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm blessed to be their ESL teacher, and I'm very proud of every one of my students."

For more than two decades, The NEA Foundation has honored outstanding educators committed to elevating the profession.

The Nebraska State Education Association nominated Perez for the award.

“These talented educators have connected powerfully with students, supporting them in the moment and empowering them for the future,” said Sara A. Sneed, president and CEO of The NEA Foundation. “Their educational expertise, commitment to serving students’ diverse needs, and ability to uplift their colleagues are fundamental to creating robust and inclusive learning environments for all. We thank them for their commitment to their students and the teaching profession, which is fundamental to a democratic society. We thank Horace Mann Educators Foundation for its support in recognizing outstanding educators in such an uplifting way.”

“Educators are the driving force to engage and inspire students,” said Marita Zuraitis, president of the Horace Mann Educators Foundation board of directors and president and CEO of Horace Mann Educators Corporation. “The Horace Mann Educators Foundation believes educators should be recognized for their commitment to helping every child reach their full potential, and the Foundation is proud to recognize the exceptional contributions and achievements of the recipients of the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.”

To learn more about the 2023 awardees, visit www.neafoundation.org.