Lafayette Teacher Selected by NEA for Prestigious Teaching Excellence Award

The NEA Foundation recently announced that Whitney Drewrey, a special education teacher at Lafayette Upper Elementary is one of 45 public school educators who will receive the prestigious California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala next February in Washington, D.C.

The California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence awardees are nominated by their peers for their dedication to the profession, community engagement, professional development, attention to diversity, and advocacy for fellow educators.

Whitney Drewrey, a teacher at Lafayette Upper Elementary, was recently selected as one of 45 teachers by the NEA for one of its prestigious awards. Photo provided.

Each year, the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala draws almost 1,000 supporters of public education, and thousands more online, to applaud these awardees. At the gala, the educators are truly the stars, celebrated throughout the night with music, performances, videos, and more.

“This year’s awardees are fulfilling the promise of public education in classrooms, schools, and communities from coast to coast,” says Sara A. Sneed, President and CEO, the NEA Foundation. “Each awardee has met a very high standard, and together, they are celebrated for a shared commitment to educational excellence, innovative approaches to student learning, and support
for their peers. We are grateful to California Casualty for its recognition and celebration of the very best in education, and we look forward to honoring the 2020 California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence awardees.”

“We are proud to honor these exceptional educators and show our appreciation for their incredible work,” says Beau Brown, CEO, California Casualty. “The California Casualty awardees exemplify educators’ ability to be a positive force in their students’ lives.”

Of the 45 state awardees who were nominated by their National Education Association state affiliate, five finalists will be announced at the beginning of the school year and receive $10,000 at the gala. The nation’s top educator will be revealed at the gala on Feb. 7, 2020 and receive an additional $25,000. The gala will be live-streamed at neafoundation.org.

The NEA Foundation and the National Education Association jointly present the awards. California Casualty has been serving the insurance needs of educators for 68 years and is the only auto and home insurance company to earn the trust and endorsement of the NEA.

Press release courtesy of NEA