Dental Assisting Educator of the Year
We want to celebrate you!
Educators prepare the next generation of dental assistants to provide safe, patient-centered care. That’s why we’ve launched a new award that recognizes dental assisting educators for outstanding dedication to their students and the profession.
The Dental Assisting Educator of the Year award celebrates high school and post-secondary educators who exemplify excellence in preparing students for successful careers and helping strengthen the dental workforce.
Submit your application by Nov. 2 for the opportunity to receive a gift card up to $1,000!
Recipient selection
Applicants will be evaluated for their support of students, the profession, and DANB certification. Plus, DANB will share photos of the finalists on our Facebook page for voting in November! Students, colleagues, family, and friends are invited to like and comment on photos to show their encouragement.
Prizes
Recipients from each category will receive:
First place: $1,000 gift card
Second place: $500 gift card
Third place: $250 gift card
Runners up: $100 gift card
The winners will also receive plaques to display and public recognition through DANB and the DALE Foundation.
Details
The application form includes questions about your experience as a dental assisting educator, including your background and how you support students and the profession.
Apply
Submit your application by Nov. 2 for the opportunity to win. High school and post-secondary dental assisting educators are eligible to apply.
Official rules
Eligibility
The award is open to dental assisting educators in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. By participating, you agree to these official rules and to the decisions of DANB’s judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Only a current dental assisting educator can submit the entry form.
Employees, officers, directors and trustees of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the DALE Foundation; their respective advertising and marketing agencies, partners, ambassadors, and affiliates; their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside); and persons living in the same households as such individuals (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate.
No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning. This award has no bearing on the exam or certification status of any exam candidate or certificant.
How to Enter
- Select your your category (high school educator or post-secondary school educator) and complete the application.
- Submit the application by Nov. 2, 2026.
- Applications must be submitted by the educator themselves.
- They must be a current employee of a high school or post-secondary school dental assisting program.
- Limit one entry. If more than one entry is received, only the first entry will be considered.
Entry Timeframe
Entries will be accepted starting Oct. 1, 2026, through Nov. 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Winner Determination
Educators will be evaluated on the content submitted in the online entry form and their support of students, the dental assisting profession, and DANB certification. Social media voting will be a factor in selecting winners, but it will not be the sole determining factor.
Winner Notification
Winners will be notified by Jan. 15, 2027.
Winner Recognition
Winning educators from each category will receive:
- First place: $1,000 gift card
- Second place: $500 gift card
- Third place $250 gift card
- Runners up: $100 gift card
Each winner will also receive plaque to display and public recognition of their award through DANB and the DALE Foundation.
No prize substitution, cash equivalent of prizes, transfer or assignment of prizes is permitted, except by DANB/DALE Foundation, which reserves the right to substitute a prize with one of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion.
Ownership of Entries
By submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by these official rules and grant DANB/DALE Foundation a non-exclusive, fully paid-up and royalty-free, worldwide license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate your entry, including without limitation the right to distribute all or part of the entry in any media formats through any media channels. You also consent to DANB/DALE Foundation the right to print, publish, broadcast, and use worldwide in any media now known or later developed, your name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, city and state of residence, and biographical information for any purpose, including but not limited to, in advertisements, publicity, and other communications, worldwide, in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission, except where prohibited by law. For uses beyond the consent that you grant above, you agree that DANB/DALE Foundation’s use of personal data will be governed by the Privacy Policy posted on DANB’s website.
Indemnity
By submitting an entry, you release, discharge and hold harmless DANB, the DALE Foundation, their employees, officers, directors, trustees, agents and respective advertising and marketing agencies or partners from any and all damages whether direct or indirect, which may be due to or arise out of your participation in the award entry or the acceptance, use, misuse or possession of any prize.
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these official rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants, winners, or sponsors in connection with this award shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws in the state of Illinois. Any legal action related to this award or the official rules shall be brought only in the courts of the state of Illinois.
Disclaimer
DANB and the DALE Foundation are not responsible for printing or typographical errors in these official rules or in any award-related materials. DANB reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual that tampers with the entry process. DANB also reserves the right to terminate, suspend, cancel or modify the award if it is not capable of running as planned due to any reason, including but not limited to technical failures, fraud, unauthorized intervention, or a force majeure event.