Wade Whitehead is the Founder and Executive Director of the Teachers of Promise Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the teacher pipeline by identifying, honoring, and developing exceptional preservice teachers.
At the time of the Award, Wade was a third-grade teacher at Crystal Spring School in Roanoke, Virginia, where he taught for thirty years. A fourth-generation Virginia public school educator and a National Board Certified Teacher since 1999, he is recognized for his leadership in teacher quality, deep knowledge of pedagogy, ability to design systems that serve children and families, and delivery of high-quality professional learning experiences.
At the Teachers of Promise Foundation, Wade has built and implemented a national model for teacher quality by focusing intentionally on the earliest stages of the profession, when future teachers are forming their professional identity, beliefs, and habits of practice. With an active footprint in eight states and continued expansion underway, Teachers of Promise works in close partnership with colleges of education, school systems, and state leaders to elevate teaching, strengthen preparation, and support long-term retention. Through its institutes, summits, and state-based partnerships, the organization has recognized more than 4,000 future teachers from colleges and universities across the United States and connected them to mentors, expert educators, school leaders, and professional networks committed to excellence in teaching. More than 100 expert educators, including dozens of Milken Educators, have served as mentors and presenters through Teachers of Promise events and programs.
Wade is a sought-after keynote speaker, workshop leader, and retreat facilitator who has designed and delivered more than 300 professional learning experiences in the United States and internationally. His current speaking and advisory work includes a strong focus on the role of artificial intelligence in education, with particular attention to what should remain distinctly human in teaching and learning. He regularly speaks with educators, school leaders, universities, and organizations about teacher identity, purpose, practice, long-term professional sustainability, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. Wade has led leadership retreats for education and nonprofit organizations and has advised the United States Department of Education on matters related to teaching and assessment. He has appeared dozens of times across television, print, digital media, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, and professional journals, contributing to national conversations about education, leadership, and the future of teaching.
His partnerships and audiences have included school districts, colleges and universities, state and national Departments of Education, and organizations such as Apple, PBS, FableVision, Flocabulary, Toyota, Lexus, Pfizer, and Exact Sciences. Wade currently serves as a Director at the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity and at The First Tee.
Wade holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia and completed certification in School Leadership and Management at Harvard University.
His awards and recognitions include the McGlothlin Award for Teaching Excellence, the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award, the Virginia Lottery Excellence in Education Award, and The Roanoker magazine’s Most Inspiring Teacher award. In 2016, he was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
He is the co-author of the forthcoming book The Teaching Tree, which explores purpose, practice, and sustainability in the teaching profession.
