CATESOL Education Foundation
Changes Underway
We are making some changes to this site. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to learn more about the CATESOL Education Foundation, the awards we offer, and ways you can support educators of multilingual learners of English.
About Us
We are dedicated to promoting the teaching of English to multilingual learners through awards, stipends, conference support, and teacher training grants.
To provide funding to support education opportunities to teachers of English language learners & to inform the general public about the strengths and needs of these students.
To continue providing support for multilingual English learners through recognition for teachers, study groups, teacher training, and conference speakers/events for the coming year.
Our training includes an annual intensive study group for all levels of teachers of multilingual learners who want explore effective classroom practices for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
We also host a K-12 Study Group grant focused on working with students with interrupted formal education (SIFE). This grant is led by Judy O’Loughlin, a past Board member and SIFE specialist, and was set up as a memorial to Joseph O’Loughlin, who spent many hours supporting his wife.
Our foundation supports attendance for graduate students and part-time teachers to attend and present at CATESOL conferences.
We also provide the cost of keynote speakers at annual and regional CATESOL conferences for instructors and graduate students.
We recognize teachers with grants and awards to assist them in pioneering classroom technology and curriculum.
Sponsored Awards
The Rick Sullivan Award covers CATESOL conference registration for graduate student members seeking professional development.
Deadline: September 15th, 2026
The Gordon Johnson Award supports two graduate students or part-time ESL teachers in California with a one-year CATESOL membership to encourage professional growth.
Deadline: Various
The $1000 Ron Lee Technology Award will go to the ESL instructor who has integrated technology in innovative ways to support ESL teaching.
2026 submissions closed.
Please check back for 2027 deadline soon.
The Sam Price Family Foundation Award covers CATESOL 2026 conference registration and a one-year membership for two adult educators—one member and one non-member—who submit a plan to share what they learn at their school.
2026 submissions closed.
Please check back for 2027 deadline soon.
The $500 Community College Professional Development Award honors an outstanding Community College ESL instructor who is nominated by a peer instructor for successfully providing opportunities for empowering students in the classroom. The applicant will write a 250-500 word essay describing the their accomplishments and impact.
2026 Submissions Closed!
Please check back for 2027 deadline soon.
The Community College Student Essay Award honors an ESL student in a credit or non-credit program in community college. The applicant will write a 500-1000 word essay on a selected prompt. The essay winner will receive $200 worth of books from Townsend Press.
2026 submissions closed.
Please check back for 2027 deadline soon.
The College/University Level English Language Research Award offers $500 and potential publication in the CATESOL Journal to current or recent students and instructors in California for original, unpublished research with clear pedagogical relevance to ESL/TESL.
Sorry! This award is not being run this year. Check back in 2027.