Seeking Nominations for Street Law’s 2026 Classroom Champion Award

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Teachers play a vital role in building civic agency and advancing justice. Their classrooms are where the next generation of informed, active, and engaged community members begins to take shape.

At Street Law, we believe it’s important to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of teachers. Since 2005, our annual awards program has honored educators who go above and beyond in law-related and civic education.

We are excited to launch the search for our 2026 Classroom Champion!

We are seeking nominations for exceptional classroom teachers who:

Use student-centered interactive methodologies.
Use Street Law-developed materials in engaging ways.
Further Street Law’s mission of advancing civic and law-related education.

You can nominate yourself or someone else here: Nomination Form

The nomination deadline is January 15, 2026.

Contact Emma Progar with questions about the 2026 Classroom Champion Award.

Benefits

The 2026 Classroom Champion will receive:

National recognition as one of the country’s top civic educators
A FREE trip for two to Washington, DC, to attend the Street Law Awards Gala on May 6, 2026
A place among Street Law’s distinguished past honorees

Please consider nominating yourself (or a colleague). Sharing your work provides a powerful window into how Street Law programs and materials make a difference for teachers and students every day.

Past Honorees

2025—John Allen, Putnam High School, Putnam, CT
2024—Melissa Webster, Cascade High School, Everett, WA
2023—Shelina Warren, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Washington, DC
2022—Jen Reidel, Options High School, Bellingham, WA
2021—Shiney Abraham, Alief Early College High School, Houston, TX
2020—William Scott, Armstrong High School, Richmond, VA
2019—Kelly Jones Wagy, Overland High School, Aurora, CO
2018—Mark Klarman, Vanguard High School, New York, NY
2017—Julio Garcia, Coral Gables High School, FL
2016—Andrea Fazel, Natomas Pathways Charter HS, Sacramento, CA
2015—Carlos Castillo, Roosevelt High School, Los Angeles, CA
2014—Lucy Ryder Duffey, Lake Mary High School, Lake Mary, FL
2013—Ayo Magwood, Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School, Washington, DC
2012—Susan Strickland, Friendly High School, Fort Washington, MD
2011—Janet Emond, Downers Grove North High School, Downers Grove, IL
2010—Joe Gutmann, Central High School Magnet Career Academy, Louisville, KY
2009—Lori Urogdy Eiler, Shaw High School Leadership Academy, East Cleveland, OH
2008—The Honorable James P. Swanger, District Court of Clark County, Vancouver, WA, and Kerry Sylvia, Cardozo High School, Washington, DC
2007—Laura Dym Cohen, Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA, and Cathy Ruffing, Centreville High School, Clifton, VA
2006—Patrick McGillicuddy, South Brooklyn Community School, Brooklyn, NY
2005—Fred Cole, MAPS Alternative School, Marquette, MI