2025

Horace Mann honors teaching excellence at NEA Foundation Gala

NEA Foundation Gala

Pictured: Nick Archuleta, NEA Foundation Board Chair; Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence recipients - Joe Nappi, Maribel Vilchez, Reva Lobatos, Jacqueline Brown, Matthew Hamilton; Sara Sneed, NEA Foundation President & CEO; Bret Conklin, Liv Coffman and Kelly Ruwe from Horace Mann

February 15, 2025

Matthew Hamilton’s dedication to education and student engagement earned him the 2025 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence at the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in February.

Hamilton was one of five educators considered for the award after being named a Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence recipient in October 2024. The Horace Mann awards are sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, which aims to recognize the dedication of the nation's educators to helping every student reach their full potential.

A seventh-grade social studies and video production educator at East Jordan Public Schools in East Jordan, Michigan, Hamilton founded the Shoe Club in 2008 after hearing a speaker share emotional stories behind different pairs of shoes—some belonging to students who had taken their own lives. The club encourages students to reflect on life goals, motivation and empathy.

“I told myself, I’ve got to do something to help these kids with their life and their struggles,” Hamilton said. “I’m not afraid to fail and try new things. Often, through failure comes growth and learning.”

The Shoe Club collects shoes from influential figures—including Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, and Michael Jordan—challenging students to consider what it would be like to “walk a day in someone else’s shoes.”

Beyond the club, Hamilton and his students have led community service projects, including:

  • Raising funds for solar panels at a local school.
  • Enhancing a school garden for environmental learning.
  • Partnering with veterans to improve a community park.

Hamilton’s work highlights how educators can inspire students beyond the classroom and create meaningful change in their communities.

Other Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence recipients include Jacqueline Brown (Okolona High School, Okolona, Miss.), Reva Lobatos (Fremont County School District 25, Riverton, Wyo.), Joe Nappi (Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, N.J.), and Maribel Vilchez (Lydia Hawk Elementary School, Lacey, Wash.).