IEA Awards Every year, members of the IEA recognize their colleagues for their outstanding efforts and successes on behalf of Idaho’s children.
The work that many of our members do as teachers and education support professionals goes above and beyond their job descriptions. The nomination deadline for the 2026 IEA Awards is Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
2025 IEA Award Winners
Congratulations to this year's recipients!
Vallivue Education Association Back-to-School Committee: Betty Roper Public Relations Award
The Vallivue Education Association’s Back-to-School Fair Committee has set a new standard for exceptional community engagement. The committee handles every detail of this flagship event, which provides free resources to families — from immunizations and sports physicals to school supplies and food boxes — serving over 1,400 individuals this year alone. Their brilliant communication strategy has caught media attention while weaving meaningful relationships with district leadership, local businesses and even state legislators. By removing barriers to educational success, they’ve demonstrated that education extends beyond classroom walls — it’s about nurturing whole, healthy communities and amplifying the power of collaborative advocacy.
Lindsey Smith: Sue Hovey Mentoring Award
Lindsey Smith’s passion transforms the lives of early career teachers throughout Region 2 and beyond. As an NEA and IEA trainer, Smith creates experiences that leave lasting impressions, emphasizing collaborative, positive approaches. Her commitment extends through multiple leadership roles, including Region 2 President, while her professional development work at the district, regional, state, and national levels truly embodies the spirit of mentorship that inspires positive change throughout Idaho’s educational community.
Raul Pedraza: Sam Cikaitoga Service Award
An extraordinary 8th grade social studies teacher at Vallivue Middle School, Raul Pedraza has a special talent for student engagement. Whether he’s telling one of his infamous dad jokes, leading students in powerful Holocaust remembrance projects, or weaving the accordion into his lessons, Pedraza makes learning electric. His dedication extends beyond the classroom to student committees, school events, and Vallivue Education Association activities — truly embodying the spirit of an educator whose work enriches our communities.
Joy Weisel: Membership Recruiter Award
Joy Weisel has been a transformative force within the Caldwell Education Association. Through her exceptional talent for organizing engaging events and prioritizing education support professionals, Weisel recruited over 46 new members this year alone — surpassing the combined total from the previous three years. From rallying community support for Caldwell’s vital school levy to inspiring colleagues to step into leadership roles themselves, Weisel’s genuine care has created a sustainable culture of involvement that maintains strong membership despite district turnover. Her tireless efforts have fostered an inclusive, supportive culture that benefits students and staff alike.
Emily Pearson: Aspiring Educator Award
After being inspired by a presentation on the power of the Idaho Education Association, Pearson took immediate action, quickly rising from vice president to president of her University of Idaho Aspiring Educator chapter. Her initiatives like “Pizza, Pop and Politics” have brought education leaders to campus, but her reach extends beyond the confines of college. A natural communicator, Pearson uses social media to raise awareness of issues affecting educators and has quickly shown a talent for organizing. Her warm communication style and her determination to build strong union connections promises to create positive change throughout Idaho’s education community for years to come.
Peggy Hoy: Shane Anderson Outstanding Member Award
Peggy Hoy’s influence extends from classrooms to the halls of state government. Throughout her career, Hoy has demonstrated exceptional leadership, tirelessly organizing, advocating, and networking to benefit public school educators throughout the state. As one of her nominators wrote, “What sets Peggy apart is her genuine commitment to the betterment of the profession. She doesn’t seek recognition for her work; instead, she is motivated by a deep belief in the power of education to change lives.”
Terri Sanders: Monica Beaudoin Retired Award
For Terri Sanders, dedication to educator solidarity reaches across Idaho. As the heartbeat of support for education professionals facing challenges, Sanders mobilizes retired members to attend contentious school board meetings and personally welcomes every newly retired educator into the IEA community. Her leadership extends nationally through her work on National Education Association-Retired committees and attendance at conferences from San Francisco to Baltimore. Through her enthusiastic efforts, Sanders has contributed enormously to building a cohesive, strong retired membership that continues to positively influence Idaho education.
Molly Hierschbiel: Edythe Crowe Education Support Professional Award
For more than 30 years, Molly Hierschbiel has compassionately supported Idaho’s most vulnerable learners. Her excellence in the classroom has earned the highest praise from her colleagues, and her dedication to her students is legendary. Hierschbiel has created a “growth mindset” club, mentored new paraprofessionals, represented colleagues at Delegate Assembly, and continues to advocate tirelessly for public education. Although she is set to enter a well-deserved retirement, her institutional knowledge and passion for supporting fellow ESPs have made her an irreplaceable asset to the Moscow School District.
Quinn Perry: Idaho School Boards Association
Quinn Perry is a remarkable force in Idaho education advocacy and a true ally to the Idaho Education Association and public schools. Known for her tenacious spirit and exceptional work ethic, Perry has been central to numerous IEA victories, skillfully navigating political complexities and building powerful coalitions. An excellent strategist and network builder, she has put her numerous gifts to work for Idaho’s school children. With unwavering determination and a deep commitment to justice and equity, Perry has created a lasting legacy that continues to make the state’s classrooms better places for learning and teaching.
Discover the IEA Awards
Union members have created several awards to better recognize the diverse and exemplary contributions of their colleagues.
Betty Roper Public Relations Award
The award shall go to a local or region that has made a special and unique contribution to the cause of furthering communications and public relations internally and/or externally over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year. Items for consideration may include newsletter, presentations, press releases, or social media activity.
Champion of Education Award
This award will go to a person or persons who have made a special and unique contribution to the cause of education over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year within the purview of their job.
Edythe Crowe Education Support Professional Award
The winner is an ESP member who has made a special and unique contribution to the cause of education over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year. IEA’s Edythe Crow honoree is IEA’s nominee for the NEA Education Support Professional of the Year Award which recognizes the contributions of ESP to their schools, communities, and their profession. Please use the Application instructions PDF as a guideline to follow when submitting applications for this year.
Friend of Education Award
The award shall go to a person or persons who have made a special and unique contribution to the cause of education over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year.
Larry Caldwell Member Advocacy Award
The award will be given annually to an IEA member who has confronted extraordinary challenges in assuring their students, their school, their colleagues, or their profession, have been treated fairly and justly.
Marsha Nakamura Award for Teaching Excellence
This award goes to a certified member who recognizes, rewards, and promotes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. IEA’s Nakamura honoree is IEA’s nomination for the NEA Award for Teaching Excellence. The awardee will be IEA’s guest at the NEA Foundation Banquet in February. To apply, please fill out and print the NEA’s Teacher of the Year award application from the NEA Foundation website, and send the completed form to IEA like all other awards. We will submit the Nakamura Award winner to NEA as our nominee.
Membership Recruiter Award
The Membership Recruiter award is presented to a member annually who has exhibited leadership skills in the area of membership recruitment and retention. The recipient of this award is selected on the basis of sustained efforts in the area of membership recruitment and retention.
Monica Beaudoin Retired Award
Monica Beaudoin was an advocate for students, teachers, ESPs, and public education. While a teacher in the Lake Pend Oreille school district she successfully ran for the Idaho House of Representatives, serving two terms. She gave up her seat in the legislature when she was elected as IEA President, serving four years. Monica championed many causes and projects as an IEA member and was instrumental in launching the IEA Children’s Fund. After her term as IEA President and after retirement, Monica remained very active in the Association. She served on both the IEA and NEA Board of Directors for many years as a retired representative and was active in the North Idaho Education Association Retired Chapter. Monica spent her entire career
advocating for children and public education, and her contributions will long be remembered.
The Monica Beaudoin Award is created to honor an IEA retired educator who has continued to be active in retirement and made significant contributions to the IEA Retired Organization.
Sam Cikaitoga Service Award
This award recognizes and rewards a person who, like Sam, understands and celebrates the ways we are all alike downplays our differences. The award shall be to a person or persons who have made a special and unique contribution to the cause of public education over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year.
Shane Anderson Outstanding Member Award
This award was created to honor IEA members who share Shane’s commitment to and passion for public education and the work of the Idaho Education Association and shall be awarded to a current and active member for outstanding and dedicated service to their local and state education associations.
Sue Hovey Mentoring Award
The award will be given annually to a current IEA member who has formally or informally mentored new or struggling colleague(s).
Teacher Trainee Award
This award goes to one elementary education major and/or one secondary education major who is currently enrolled in a teacher training program.
