Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) - FY 2025 (2)
| Agency: | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
|---|---|
| Office: | White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | 06/23/2025 (Application) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | Unknown |
| Match Required: | No |
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to recognize outstanding full-time K-12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. This program is intended to honor, support, and encourage educators who incorporate environmental education in their classrooms and teaching methods, including using the following topics as a basis to teach about environmental sustainability:
- Agricultural practices
- Food waste
- Artificial intelligence
- Lead in drinking water
- Recycling
- School gardens
- Sustainability
- Using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in environmental education
- Water infrastructure
- Water quality and/or litter within waterways
The following will be provided through this program:
- Awarded teachers will receive a presidential award plaque, an award of up to $2,500 to further their professional development in environmental education, and a congratulatory letter from a senior official from the EPA
- The awarded teacher's respective local education agency (LEA) will receive an award of up to $2,500 to support environmental educational activities and programs
Program Office Notes:
The program officer confirmed the application due date.
Last Updated: June 17, 2025
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are teachers that meet the following requirements:
- Teach K-12 on a full-time basis in a public school that is operated by a local education agency (LEA), including schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education
- Hold a current teaching license from the state, or valid reciprocity from the state for a license from another state
- Have a minimum of five years of K-12 teaching experience, including at least three years of teaching environmental education and/or an environment-based curriculum
- Anticipate a classroom teaching assignment involving environmental education for the upcoming school year
- Are citizens of the United States, its territories, or possessions, or are lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residency
For the purposes of this program, an LEA is defined as a public board of education or other public authority within a state that maintains administrative control of public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a state. Some charter schools are considered LEAs.
Multiple teachers from the same LEA and the same school may apply; however, applying as a team is not recommended, as detailed on page 1 of the FAQ file.
The following are not eligible to apply:
- Teachers who have received an award through this program in the past five years
- Teacher's aides
Previous award recipients include teachers from the following schools:
- Hollis Primary School (Hollis, NH)
- Garrison Union Free School District (Garrison, NY)
- Gulf Shores High School (Gulf Shores, AL)
- Pine Intermediate School (North Olmsted, OH)
- Red Lodge High School (Red Lodge, MT)
Refer to the Award file for additional information regarding previous award recipients.
Eligible Applicants:
OtherSchools/School Districts
Application Notes:
Applications must be received by June 23, 2025.
The program officer confirmed the application due date.
Applications must be emailed to the address provided in the Contact section with the subject line "Application for 2024-2025 PIAEE."
Applications must include:
- Application form (12 pages)
- Essay answers (9 pages max)
- Letters of support (3 letters; 1 page max each)
- Sample teaching materials and pictures (10 pages max)
- Copy of the applicant teacher's teaching certificate (1 page)
Essays must be formatted with 1.5-line spacing, with margins no less than 1 inch, and 12-point Times New Roman font. Audio or video/visual recordings are limited to ten minutes of playing time. The submission of photos is optional, but encouraged. Photos must be clearly labeled. Letters of support must be submitted in .pdf or Microsoft Word format.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Innovation (25 points)
- Achievement (15 points)
- Service to the community (20 points)
- Leadership (15 points)
- Integration (10 points)
- Sample teaching materials (10 points)
- Letters of support (5 points)
Applications will be reviewed according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) region in which the applicant teacher's school is located.
Refer to the NOFA, Application, and FAQ files for additional application information.
| Match Required: | No |
|---|---|
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
Match Notes:
There are no stated matching requirements for this program.
Funding Notes:
An unspecified amount of funding is available through this program to support up to two awards from each of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ten regions. This program will provide the following:
- Awarded teachers will receive a presidential award plaque, an award of up to $2,500 to further their professional development in environmental education, and a congratulatory letter from a senior official from the EPA
- The awarded teacher's respective local education agency (LEA) will receive an award of up to $2,500 to support environmental educational activities and programs
Award notifications are expected to be announced in the spring.
Funding awarded to teachers may not be used for class trips.
Funds awarded to LEAs may not be used for:
- Construction costs
- General expenses
- Salaries
- Bonuses
- Other administrative expenses
- Activities to enhance the LEA's environment, such as planting trees and bushes
For FY 2024, nine awards were issued through this program. For FY 2023, nine awards and four honorable mentions were issued. For FY 2022, 11 awards were issued. Refer to the Award file for details.
Contacts:
Program Staff
PIAEE@epa.gov
Agency Address
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the program staff.
Applications must be emailed to the address provided.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
Award File: US13290_Award_FY2025_2.pdf (3.2 Mb)NOFA File: US13290_NOFA_FY2025_2.pdf (212.8 Kb)
Application File: US13290_Application_FY2025_2.pdf (500.6 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US13290_FAQ_FY2025_2.pdf (168.4 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains general program information and application guidelines. The Application file contains the required form for submission. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients.
June 17, 2025
The program officer confirmed the application due date. The Application section has been updated accordingly.
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AgricultureEducation
Training & Vocational Services
Environment/Natural Resources
Science/Technology