Impact Award

The Impact Award recognizes individuals who have done outstanding work to improve learning opportunities at a national or global level. Impact Award recipients have been a major force for innovation in education. These are trailblazers whose work motivates and engages others, and has an impact for years to come.

Award Details

Winners

  • Are education innovators on a national or global level.
  • Focus on closing opportunity gaps to create a more equitable education system.
  • Use and champion others’ use of the ISTE+ASCD Transformational Learning Principles to elevate meaningful and impactful learning, teaching and leading.

Award Package

  • Engraved plaque acknowledging the recipient’s outstanding achievement.
  • $500 cash prize.
  • A one-year ISTE+ASCD Print Enhanced membership ($129 value).
  • Recognition at the co-located ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual Conference 26, and on the ISTE+ASCD website.
  • Reimbursement for one hotel room for three nights to attend ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual 26.
  • Complimentary registration for ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual 26 ($895 value).
  • Opportunities to contribute such as presenting a webinar, participating in a podcast, or highlighted in an article.

2026 Winners

Isabelle Hau

Isabelle Hau is the executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, championing inclusive learning solutions through brain science and technology. An impact investor, she previously led the U.S. education practice at Omidyar Network and Imaginable Futures, and authored “Love to Learn.”

Baruti Kafele

Baruti Kafele is a highly regarded educator, master teacher, and transformational leader who led the turnaround of four New Jersey urban schools. He has authored 14 books, including seven ASCD bestsellers, and has been recognized as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals by Global Gurus.

Ted Dintersmith

Ted Dintersmith is an education advocate and filmmaker focused on equipping students with the competencies needed to thrive in an age of rapidly advancing machine intelligence. He produced the Sundance-acclaimed documentary “Most Likely to Succeed,” and authored the bestselling book "What School Could Be."

Past Winners

Jean-Claude Brizard

Jean-Claude Brizard leads Digital Promise Global, advancing equitable education worldwide.

Andreas Schleicher

Andreas Schleicher leads education policy at the OECD, advising global leaders on improving education equity and quality.

Monique M. Chism, Ph.D.

Dr. Monique Chism oversees educational strategy at the Smithsonian.

Jay McTighe

Jay McTighe is an author and consultant best known for Understanding by Design®.