Elbert K. Fretwell - Outstanding Educator Award
Consider nominating a worthy educator for the Elbert K. Fretwell Award.
Fretwell was an educator and the second Chief Scout Executive of Scouting America. This award was developed in 2016 to recognize outstanding educators (teachers, coaches, administrators, support staff, etc.) and their support of the Scouting America mission “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
The award is generally presented at a meeting where their peers are present and may be given by the district, council, territory or national. Rewarding an educator for their support and impact on youth builds a relationship between schools and Scouting America. This is a great way to start a dialog with teachers, principals, and superintendents about how our programs support their work, and vice versa.
Any leader may submit a nomination for the Elbert K. Fretwell Award. If you know someone deserving of this award, the first step is to discuss it with your District Executive, who will advise you on the process.
Resources:
- ScoutWire Article: The Fretwell Award Helps Recognize Members of the Educator Community
- Elbert K. Fretwell Implementation Guidebook
Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award FAQs
How many awards can each Council present?
As many as you want, up to one award per school per year. The goal is to build relationships that allow us to serve the school community and bring the opportunities of Scouting to students.
Who approves the awards?
Each council approves its own awards. It also can design its own methods for nominating and selecting candidates. The Outstanding Educator Award Implementation Guidebook provides different ideas from which to choose, such as using existing membership, advancement, or relationships committees. You can also create a panel of community members to solicit and review nominations. Only territory and national level awards need to be approved through the National Council.
Where do I get the forms?
Example forms are included in the Outstanding Educator Award Implementation Guidebook, and each council is free to modify these forms to meet its own needs.
How much do the award items cost?
The award kit can be ordered through your Scout Shop and BSA Supply. While we strongly encourage you to use the medals, no particular award item is mandatory. Councils may also work with BSA-licensed vendors to create other award items such as mugs or shirts that suit recipients’ preferences.
Can the Outstanding Educator Award be used as an appreciation award for an educator who has supported Scouting?
Yes, but don’t limit yourself to this. The most powerful use of the Outstanding Educator Award is to build relationships with schools that do not already support Scouting or host Scout units. By recognizing teachers of character, we give to the school community and build goodwill.
Should education administrators be considered for the Outstanding Educator Award?
Anyone serving in education who promotes positive Scouting values to students, including administrators, is eligible. Ideally, a recipient is someone whom students and parents know personally. Be sure to consider staff members as well as teachers.
Is the Outstanding Educator Award for use in public schools only?
The award can be used in all levels of organized education from pre-K through college. The award can be
presented in public, private, religious, and charter schools. While an individual home schooler would not be eligible, a leader with a home school organization could qualify.
Is the award limited to Scouters?
This award is primarily given to people who are not registered volunteers. Scouters are eligible but are recognized for what they do in their professional capacity to support our schools, not for their Scouting activities. There are plenty of other awards to recognize Scouting volunteers.
Do I need to maintain records?
We ask councils to report the names of Outstanding Educator Award recipients through the system used for reporting Silver Beaver and Heroism Awards, which allows us to monitor the effectiveness of the program. Your council registrar should have access to this system. You will also want to maintain local records so you can honorably mention former recipients and reconsider worthy candidates from
previous years for later recognition.
How can I get other questions answered? Email: education.Relationships@Scouting.org
