One of ACSA's priorities is to ensure that school leaders are recognized for their excellence. Through our annual awards program we honor administrators and community members for their achievements and their dedication to public education.
The deadline for submission of 2010 nominations to state ACSA is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2010. Nominations received by state ACSA after the deadline will not be considered eligible (postmarks not accepted).
The Ferd. Kiesel and Marcus Foster award nominations may be sent directly to state ACSA; all other awards must first be submitted to your region president or designee (go to our Regions section to learn your region's deadline). 2010 awards will be presented at next year's Leadership Summit in San Diego, November, 2010.
**Click here to download nomination forms.**
Each year ACSA recognizes a select group of individuals for their significant contributions to education through three prestigious awards named in memory of past ACSA leaders: Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award, Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence and the Robert E. Kelly Award.
In addition, members are honored for outstanding performance and achievement as Administrators of the Year in 19 job-alike categories.
The Valuing Diversity Award is given to the member whose efforts to promote diversity epitomize ACSA’s mission statement.
Programs and businesses that collaborate with administrators in support of education are also recognized though the Partners in Educational Excellence Award.
The Outstanding Media Coverage of Public Education Award recognizes media outlets that go above and beyond regular reporting to highlight the many attributes of public education.
For further questions regarding ACSA's Awards Program, please contact:
Emily Senecal
Awards Committee Executive
1029 J Street, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.329.3833 • 916.290.0385 fax
esenecal@acsa.org
**Click here to download nomination forms.**
Purpose. The Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor ACSA can present to an individual. The award is made in the memory of Ferd. Kiesel, ACSA’s founding president.
Eligibility. The recipient can be anyone who has made a significant contribution to public education, including an administrator, teacher, legislator or community member. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive this award.
Criteria for granting the award include: 1) the contribution has had significant impact on public education over a wide geographical area; and 2) the contribution has had impact on significant segments of public education. Although it may not be as important as the contribution itself, the time a person has been involved with education also is considered.
Nomination Process. ACSA’s state Awards Committee seeks nominees through announcements in EdCal, region leaders and committee and council chairs. Nominations can be made by any member of ACSA, charter groups, committees or regions. The Awards Committee reviews and considers all nominations and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors which makes the final selection. The award is presented at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Deadline to submit nominations to state ACSA is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Purpose. This award recognizes outstanding leadership and significant contributions to education by a school administrator. It was established to honor the memory of Marcus Foster, former superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District.
Eligibility. The recipient should be an ACSA member who personifies the ideals of Marcus Foster and be an administrator who is a skilled manager of change; has a management style that involves many sectors of the community and includes broad professional involvement; is willing to take risks to improve educational opportunities; is creative, willing to try new ideas and reaches out to children; speaks out in his or her community on issues that have an impact on children; respects all people, especially children, as human beings; and protects the rights of all people to have full citizenship. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive this award.
Nomination Process. ACSA’s state Awards Committee seeks nominees through announcements in EdCal, region leaders and committee and council chairs. Nominations can be made by any member of ACSA, charter groups, committees, councils or regions. The Awards Committee reviews and considers all nominations and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, which makes the final selection. The award is presented at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Deadline to submit nominations to state ACSA is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Sponsored by Bank of America
Purpose. This award is made in memory of Robert E. Kelly, former superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District. Robert Kelly was instrumental in establishing the Los Angeles City Schools Bank of America Achievement Awards program in 1948. Since that time, the Bank of America Achievement Awards program has been replicated across the state.
The recipient of this award should be an individual who, upon retirement, contributes significantly to public education or educational leadership by volunteer work in his or her community.
Eligibility. The recipient must 1) be an ACSA retired member; 2) have made significant contributions to the community on a volunteer basis for at least three years; and 3) directly or indirectly helped advance the high quality of public education or educational leadership in California. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive this award.
Nomination Process. Nominations for the Robert E. Kelly Award must be made through the nominee’s region. Each region convenes an awards committee to review all nominations. The region president forwards the region’s nominee to the state Awards Committee for consideration. After reviewing all nominations, the state Awards Committee recommends a single recipient to the state Board of Directors, which makes the final selection. Recipients are honored at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Contact your region president for the region deadline. Deadline for submission of nominations to state ACSA by region presidents is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Purpose. These awards recognize outstanding performance and achievement by individual administrators, classified managers or confidential employees in the following categories:
- Superintendent
- Secondary Principal
- Middle Grades Principal
- Elementary Principal
- Central Office Administrator (District/County)
- Elementary Co-Administrator
- Secondary Co-Administrator
- Classified Manager
- Confidential Employee
- Personnel/Human Resources Administrator
- Adult Education Administrator
- Career Technical Education Administrator
- Special Education Administrator
- Superintendent/Principal
- Business Services Administrator
- Pupil Personnel Administrator
- Curriculum and Instruction Administrator
- Continuation/Educational Options Administrator
- Professor of Education
Eligibility. Recipients must be active ACSA members who show strong support for the school management team; exceptional leadership in managing school programs; commitment to educational quality and student achievement; commitment to professional growth; and creativity and innovation in dealing with issues and problems facing public education. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive these awards.
Nomination Process. Nominations for Administrator of the Year awards must be made through the nominee’s region. Each region convenes an awards committee to review all nominations. The region president forwards the region’s nominee in each category to the state Awards Committee for consideration. After reviewing all nominations, the state Awards Committee recommends one nominee in each category to the state Board of Directors, which makes the final selection. Recipients are honored at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Contact your region president for the region deadline. Deadline for submission of nominations to state ACSA by region presidents is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Purpose. This award is given to an administrator who epitomizes ACSA’s Mission Statement by his/her efforts in promoting diversity and support for all of the children, parents and staff at their school or district.
Eligibility. The recipient must be an active ACSA member who has exemplified outstanding leadership in developing and implementing programs that have enhanced the support and value of student diversity.
The administrator who receives this award should be one who: 1) fosters positive district office and school climates that promote the awareness and celebration of diversity; 2) empowers and supports staff to take risks in developing programs for all students; 3) develops strong community partnerships to ensure success for all students; 4) models and values the maintenance of high academic standards for all students; 5) shares pertinent information regarding diversity with parent and professional organizations. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive this award.
Nomination Process. Nominations for the Valuing Diversity Award must be made through the nominee’s region. Each region convenes an awards committee to review all nominations. The region president forwards the region’s nominee to the state Awards Committee for consideration. After reviewing all nominations, the state Awards Committee recommends a single recipient to the state Board of Directors, which makes the final selection. Recipients are honored at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Contact your region president for the region deadline. Deadline for submission of nominations to state ACSA by region presidents is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Purpose. The Partners in Educational Excellence Award is given annually to exemplary school-community partnership programs that promote effective educational performance, enhanced student achievement and strong community involvement in educational quality.
Eligibility. This award is granted to outstanding community partnership programs at region and state levels, and recognizes the individual leadership and contributions of school administrators, educators and community or business leaders involved in the program. Current ACSA employees and ACSA board members are not eligible to receive this award.
Nomination Process. Nominations for the Partners in Educational Excellence Award must be made through the nominee’s region. Each region convenes an awards committee to review all nominations. The region president forwards the region’s nominee to the state Awards Committee for consideration. After reviewing all nominations, the state Awards Committee recommends a single recipient to the state Board of Directors, which makes the final selection. Recipients are honored at ACSA’s Leadership Summit in November.
Deadline. Contact your region president for the region deadline. Deadline for submission of nominations to state ACSA by region presidents is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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Purpose. The purpose of this award is 1) to recognize media outlets that go above and beyond regular reporting to highlight public education; and 2) to acknowledge the news media as a partner in communicating the successes and challenges in today's public schools.
Eligibility. All journalists and newspapers, radio and television programs/outlets are eligible for the awards. Nominees are required to have published or aired stories highlighting public education within the 2009 or 2010 calendar years.
Nomination Process. Nominations must be sent directly to the nominee's region. Any ACSA member, charter or committee may submit a nomination. Each region convenes an awards committee to review all nominations and select recipients for that region. There is no limit to the number of Outstanding Media Coverage of Public Education Award recipients selected by each region.
Deadline. Contact your region president for the region deadline. Regions must inform state ACSA of their selected recipients by Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
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