Pando PR Tips No. 40
Lots of awards, Heroes of the Classroom, EdTech Chronicle Thought Leadership Series, Edison, BETT, Stevies, OLC, DA, FETC, and more
Heroes of the Classroom — Entries close on Sept. 14
Nominate a teacher for Heroes of the Classroom presented by Kleenex. Nine first prize winners receive a $1000 Costco card (and one for their school!). Grand prize winner receives a $5,000 Costco card, a $5,000 Costco card for their school, and a year’s supply of Kleenex. Individuals who nominated the ten finalists also receive a $1,000 Costco card. Nominations are easy and free. The Grand Prize winner is selected by a public vote between 9/30 and 10/11.
EdTech Chronicle opens Interview Series
ETC has a call out for thought leadership in a Q&A format. There are three topics, each with five questions.
- Five Questions for EdTech Founders
- EdTech Leaders Say This Will Matter
- Practical Strategies for EdTech Companies
Speaking of ETC, ETC is an education-specific outlet that accepts press releases from companies. In a future issue of PR Tips, we’ll do a summary of others that accept press releases, most of which require a nominal fee, but are worthwhile considering the specificity of the audience.
ASCD and ISTE 2025 — Call for submissions closes Sept. 27
Submit for a speaking spot for the combined ASCD and ISTE June 2025 conference in San Antonio. Note that there are two separate calls (ISTE and ASCD) as a panelist, playground presenter, tour leader or interactive session.
2025 Edtech Digest Awards — Regular entry is due Sept. 26
The ETD awards recognize tools, leaders, and trendsetters in K12, Higher Education, and Skills and Workforce sectors. Regular entry is $349 until Sept. 26. $399 till Oct. 17. Pay now and make edits until Oct. 17.
Bett Awards — Entries are open until Sept. 27
Categories include Best in AI in Education, Transformational Impact, Leadership & Management Solutions, and IT Support Services. Submit an intention to enter form first. Cost is £310 (+VAT) i.e. about $400.
District Administration's 2025 Top EdTech Product of the Year — Awards close Sept. 30
For cutting-edge innovations in EdTech, categories include Information Technology, eSports and Game-Based Learning Technology, and Safety and Security Technology. Note - all finalists will be required to submit a 5-minute video about the product. Cost is $149 for startup companies and $199 midsize/large companies.
2025 American Business Awards "Stevies" — Awards opens in October
The 22nd Annual Stevie Awards, a premier business awards program in the U.S.A., will open for nominations beginning Oct. 10. All organizations - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - may submit nominations. Final deadline is Feb 5. Note - We’ve entered several clients in these awards over the years and while the entry is not simple, it’s a great one for breadth of offerings. Reach out if you’d like advice on this one.
OLC Innovate 2025 — Call for submissions due Oct. 9
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Innovate 2025 is April 1-4 in Nashville. Their five speaking tracks include Emerging Education Technologies and Innovations, Future of Work, Career and Industry, and Student Support, Success and Empowerment. There is no virtual program associated with this conference and all submissions must have at least one academically affiliated presenter.
FETC 2025 Pitchfest — Applications close Oct. 11
Edtech startups seeking market exposure and validation, investment, customers, and strategic partnerships can showcase their products and services at FETC 2025 (Orlando). Five startups selected for each of the six categories. Regular entry is $149.
Edison Awards — Final deadline Nov. 1
Nominations for 2025 are open now for products released between Jan 2024 and Jan 2025. Entries are not cheap: $1,850 (non-profit rate is $995). A $200 discount is available (company entry only) if entered before Sept 30. Many categories including AI Driven Advancement and Education.
Upcoming Events
- Tech Tactics in Education 2024: Building the Future-Ready Institution — Sept. 25
This is a virtual event focusing on "Building the Future-Ready Institution" in K-12 and higher education. Registration is free. Produced by THE Journal and Campus Technology. - Empowering Educators with Science of Reading Expertise - Oct. 3 at 11am PT
Join eSchool News and a panel of Oregon educators, including Eastern Oregon University Director of the EOU Reading Clinic, Dr. Ronda Fritz, to learn how higher ed institutions are partnering with K-12 school districts to improve literacy outcomes through pre-service and in-service reading clinics that empower educators with modern instructional knowledge and tools. Sponsored by: Public Consulting Group (PCG)
Upcoming News and Social Pegs
- National Bullying Prevention Month - Oct 2024
- National Learning Development Month - Oct 2024
- World Teachers' Day - Oct 5, 2024
- International Day Against Contract Cheating - Oct 16, 2024
Final thoughts from Jennifer
We have entered every one of these awards at one time or another and we’ve won big for our clients in every education award I can think of. So, reach out if Pando can be helpful to you in submitting your entries. Remember, submit applied examples of product, not dry text that come directly from the marketing language. That won’t win. Entries need to be presented in a problem-solution or story format.