Pi Lambda Theta

Basic information

Pi Lambda Theta was founded in 1910. Its mission is to honor outstanding educators and inspire their leadership on critical education issues. As a selective organization, PLT extends membership to students and professionals who satisfy academic eligibility requirements, as well as to professional educators who have earned a PLT-recognized award or certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. For more information, visit [http://www.pilambda.org www.pilambda.org] .

PLT’s vision and mission

PLT's conferences and its quarterly journal, Educational Horizons, endeavor to help members understand complex education policy issues. Members can contribute to PLT policy positions through its national advocacy program, "Be It Resolved", and then use those positions to support individual advocacy efforts. The Educator As Leader (TEAL) workshops can help educators articulate and implement effective action commitments. Members have access to members-only résumé-distribution service, and from awards, research grants, and scholarships that are funded by the PLT Educational Endowment.

Membership and governance

Pi Lambda Theta has more than 15,000 active members; two-thirds of them are members at large and one-third belong to locally based chapters--sixty-three chapters nationwide. A small staff supervised by an executive director reports to a nine-member board of directors that is elected by direct vote of the members. A legislative council of chapter delegates meets every two years. PLT has no religious or political affiliation. Pi Lambda Theta, Inc. and the Pi Lambda Theta Educational Endowment, Inc. are not-for-profit corporations operating under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

PLT compared to other honor societies

PLT is one of three national honor societies of educators that were founded early in the 20th century. It limits eligibility to educators and students who plan to pursue careers in education, has always adhered to stated eligibility criteria, and has always had a national (now international) scope. Therefore PLT differs significantly from multi-disciplinary honor societies, regional and local honor societies, and organizations that do not have a comparable historical foundation.

Because PLT adheres to stated eligibility criteria, and because those criteria extend to numerous objective accomplishments, e.g., National Board-certified teacher, National Teacher of the Year, Christa McAuliffe Fellow, Presidential Awardee in Mathematics or Science Teaching, as well as to academic achievement, it can be considered unique among the three early national honor societies in education.

Economic philosophy

Pi Lambda Theta's goal is to try to add value to education rather than compete for limited resources. It has no for-profit subsidiaries and seeks no grants; it is entirely dues-driven. It believes that for-profit subsidiaries would lead it to compromise its mission, and that seeking grants would put it in competition for a limited pool of funds with its constituents and partners in education. In recognition of that philosophy and of PLT’s standing in education, many speakers have waived honoraria and fees.