Student Awards

Pictured: Sindian Johnson
2025 TALAE
South Central Region Career Pathways Adult Learner of the Year
Each year, The Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) organization sets aside student membership dues to provide academic awards for TALAE student members who earn a high school equivalency and want to pursue higher education; and ESL students who have demonstrated exceptional determination through their effort, persistence, leadership, and community involvement.
Pictured: Russell Riley
2025 TALAE
Coastal Region High School Equivalency Learner of the Year
High School Equivalency Learner of the Year Award
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The High School Equivalency Adult Learner of the Year Award is provided to a student who has demonstrated leadership within the formal or non-traditional learning environments. 
English Language Learner of the Year Award
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The English Language Adult Learner of the Year Award is provided to a student who has demonstrated leadership within the formal or non-traditional learning environments. ​
Career Pathways Adult Learner of the Year Award
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The Career Pathways Adult Learner of the Year Award ​is provided to a student who has demonstrated success throughout an integrated educational training environment.

Adult Educator Awards

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In addition to the student awards, The Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) recognizes administrators, teachers, and supportive employees in adult education programs that deserves special recognition because of outstanding work she/he is doing for adult education students.

(Pictured 2024 TALAE Administrator of the Year, Dianne Lyle, Kilgore College)
Administrator of the Year Award
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The awardee must demonstrate a contribution to adult education at the community, state, and/or national levels. The Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award is awarded to an adult education administrator with five or more years of experience who has made an outstanding contribution to others. 
Support Person of the Year Award
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The Outstanding Support Person of the Year Award, is provided to a practitioner with five or more years of adult education experience in a support role that participates in school and community activities. This award is given to an individual who understands the characteristics of an adult education program.
Teacher of the Year Award
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​The Adult Education Teacher of the Year must demonstrate dedication to both students and the adult education field throughout their employment.  This award is given to an individual who has made significant difference in the lives of adult learners.

Award  Categories
  1. Student: High School Equivalency Adult Learner of the Year
  2. Student: English  Language Adult Learner of the Year
  3. Student: Career Pathways Adult Learner of the Year
  4. Professional: Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award
  5. Professional: Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award
  6. Professional: Outstanding Support Person of the Year Award

Award Guidelines
  • Please complete the nomination form for your nominee. Only one nomination form is needed per nominee. You may attach documentation to this form as a scanned attachment in PDF or MS Word format.
  • If multiple nomination forms are submitted for the same person, you will be asked to consolidate items submitted.
  • TWC Staff and TALAE Board members are not eligible for nomination.
  • Spend time writing a one page "Outstanding Adult Education Activities" overview which is critical in describing your nominee and why they deserve to be nominated.
  • Attachments are also important to demonstrate the nominee's outstanding efforts in our field.
  • It is recommended to organize attachments by topic, such as student letters, recommendation from director, and newspaper clippings. For example, all student letters should be scanned and sent as one attachment. Please limit each of the attachments to more than 3 pages long.
  • 8 English Language Learner winners, 8 Career Pathway Learner winners and 8 High School Equivalency winners will be selected annually.