Bears and CDW open nominations for 2026 Classroom Legends, spotlighting educators across Chicagoland

The Chicago Bears and CDW have opened nominations for their 2026 Classroom Legends program, a community initiative designed to honor educators across Chicagoland. The program invites people to recognize teachers, administrators, counselors and other school contributors whose impact goes beyond instruction, including efforts that support students, strengthen schools and broaden opportunities for families.

In the Bears’ announcement, organizers framed the nomination process as a way for the community to put real names behind the work that often happens outside the spotlight. Nominations can be submitted by fans, families, students, colleagues and community members, emphasizing that educators can be recognized for a range of contributions, from day-to-day support to longer-term help that improves school culture.

The “powered by CDW” branding underscores the sponsor’s role in the program’s outreach, but the central focus remains local. Classroom Legends is built around the idea that educators’ influence is visible to those who see it up close, whether that is a student who benefits from extra support, a coworker who sees leadership inside and outside the classroom, or a family member who observes how school staff help solve problems that affect learning.

For the Bears, the initiative fits within the team’s broader community-facing identity. While the NFL season is built on Sundays and gamedays, the franchise has consistently used local programs to connect with fans where they live and work. Classroom Legends offers a straightforward avenue for that connection, turning civic gratitude into a public-facing recognition platform tied to an NFL club.

Nominations, as described in the Bears’ release, are intended to capture educators whose commitment extends beyond routine responsibilities. The language points to the “beyond” category of impact, meaning supporters who contribute to student success in ways that may not be reflected on a single performance metric. That includes efforts that build belonging, create stability, or help keep students on track when challenges arise.

Because the announcement focuses on the nomination window and selection purpose rather than additional procedural details, readers should expect further communications about how finalists are handled and how recognition is delivered as the 2026 season approaches. People interested in submitting a nomination should review the program’s instructions directly from the Bears’ platform to ensure they meet any requirements for submission.

The immediate thing to watch next is the volume and range of nominations. Classroom Legends tends to reflect who the community believes is making a difference, which can also report where school needs and strengths are most visible in different parts of the Chicagoland region. As the process moves forward, the Bears’ recognized educators could offer a clearer picture of what “commitment beyond the day-to-day” looks like in local schools.

Ultimately, Classroom Legends is not a football news story, but it is a sports-adjacent one. The Bears are using their reach to elevate educators, and that matters because it keeps the franchise’s community mission in view during the same months when the team’s on-field identity is also being defined.