How to Write How to Write Award Winning Award Winning

ACSA ACSA NominationsNominations

Jennifer RootJennifer RootJune 19, 2015June 19, 2015

Top Ten to Winning Top Ten to Winning AwardsAwards

How I got started…How I got started…

My track record…3 state level winners and My track record…3 state level winners and 17 or so local winners in about 10 years17 or so local winners in about 10 years

#10- You can#10- You can’’t win if you dont win if you don’’t play!t play!

Who in your District Would you Who in your District Would you Nominate Right Now?Nominate Right Now?

In two minutes, complete the list for your In two minutes, complete the list for your charter identifying who you think would be charter identifying who you think would be viable candidates to nominate.viable candidates to nominate.

Most important…are they ACSA members? Most important…are they ACSA members? All nominees (with the exception of Every All nominees (with the exception of Every Student Succeeding, Ferd Keisel, Partners Student Succeeding, Ferd Keisel, Partners in Excellence, and Outstanding Media in Excellence, and Outstanding Media Coverage) must be ACSA membersCoverage) must be ACSA members

Send a list out in September to gather Send a list out in September to gather names. All members should have the names. All members should have the privilege of nominating their colleagues.privilege of nominating their colleagues.

#9- Establish an Awards #9- Establish an Awards Chairperson as part of your Chairperson as part of your

Charter BoardCharter Board

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail…If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail…Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Identify who is a person in your charter who Identify who is a person in your charter who could serve as your Awards Chairperson? could serve as your Awards Chairperson? They need to be organized, good writing They need to be organized, good writing and proofreading skills, and be outgoing to and proofreading skills, and be outgoing to ask for letters of reference and narratives)ask for letters of reference and narratives)

#8 Solicit the Advice and #8 Solicit the Advice and Thoughts of Your MembersThoughts of Your Members

Never doubt that a small group of committed Never doubt that a small group of committed thoughtful people can change the world. thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed itIndeed it’’s the only thing that ever has! s the only thing that ever has! Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

Survey your members for who they think would Survey your members for who they think would be good candidates for nomination. Ensure be good candidates for nomination. Ensure that they understand the selection criteria. Is that they understand the selection criteria. Is your charter nominating simply to recognize at your charter nominating simply to recognize at the charter level or are you trying to win the the charter level or are you trying to win the awards at the Region and State level?awards at the Region and State level?

#7 Give Yourself Enough Time #7 Give Yourself Enough Time

You may delay but time will not. Benjamin You may delay but time will not. Benjamin FranklinFranklin

We are all busy and have these things called We are all busy and have these things called jobs that get in the way of our ACSA jobs that get in the way of our ACSA volunteerism.volunteerism.

Start in September! The administrators donStart in September! The administrators don’’t t usually change between August and January so usually change between August and January so make your selections early so you have time to make your selections early so you have time to do a quality time writing and editing as well as do a quality time writing and editing as well as gathering reference letters.gathering reference letters.

#6 How to Complete the #6 How to Complete the Nomination FormNomination Form

Accept business only at a price permitting Accept business only at a price permitting thoroughness. Then do a thorough job, thoroughness. Then do a thorough job, regardless of cost to us. Arthur C. Nielsenregardless of cost to us. Arthur C. Nielsen

Where do I find the nomination form?Where do I find the nomination form?http://www.acsa.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutACSA/AwardsProgram/FAQ.aspx

Be creative (but honest)…the goal should be Be creative (but honest)…the goal should be to fill all of the lines ESPECIALLY about ACSA to fill all of the lines ESPECIALLY about ACSA participation.participation.

#5 How to Write the Narrative#5 How to Write the Narrative

Either write something worth reading or do something worth Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. Benjamin Franklinwriting. Benjamin Franklin

Sell your candidate! This is your chance to show the selection Sell your candidate! This is your chance to show the selection committee that your candidate is the BEST. It’s not the time to be committee that your candidate is the BEST. It’s not the time to be humble.humble.

Set up a meeting with your candidate and chat with them about Set up a meeting with your candidate and chat with them about their accomplishments. Talk with their boss and get quotes about their accomplishments. Talk with their boss and get quotes about their performance.their performance.

Follow this structure for the letters: Why are you nominating the Follow this structure for the letters: Why are you nominating the candidate (paragraph 1), What has the candidate accomplished, candidate (paragraph 1), What has the candidate accomplished, What sets the candidate apart from others in their job alike What sets the candidate apart from others in their job alike category and How has the candidate served others in education category and How has the candidate served others in education (paragraph 2-5), What is the candidate(paragraph 2-5), What is the candidate’’s ACSA involvement s ACSA involvement (paragraph 6), conclude with a BANG (paragraph 7)(paragraph 6), conclude with a BANG (paragraph 7)

Use the rubric. Remember ACSA involvement is the difference Use the rubric. Remember ACSA involvement is the difference between a 3 and a 4!between a 3 and a 4!

Use powerful adjectives, look for consistent messaging, and edit Use powerful adjectives, look for consistent messaging, and edit for content, spelling and grammar.for content, spelling and grammar.

#4- Letters of Reference#4- Letters of Reference

It’s getting the right person that’s the challenge. Bob It’s getting the right person that’s the challenge. Bob SchiefferSchieffer

Gather 2 letters of reference for every nomination. When Gather 2 letters of reference for every nomination. When you submit one, it makes the readers think there was not you submit one, it makes the readers think there was not anyone to write a second one.anyone to write a second one.

Divide up the letters amongst multiple people so that the Divide up the letters amongst multiple people so that the writers can spend quality time writing it.writers can spend quality time writing it.

Provide your letter of reference writers with the Provide your letter of reference writers with the nomination form and narrative to ensure they know what nomination form and narrative to ensure they know what youyou’’re highlighting. Also ensure that the writers know re highlighting. Also ensure that the writers know the criteria for the awards.the criteria for the awards.

Make certain that it is edited for spelling and grammar.Make certain that it is edited for spelling and grammar.

Assign you board members and Superintendent to the Assign you board members and Superintendent to the letters for your strongest candidates.letters for your strongest candidates.

#3 Nominations for Other #3 Nominations for Other AwardsAwards

I donI don’’t care who does the electing as long as t care who does the electing as long as I get to do the nominating. Boss TweedI get to do the nominating. Boss Tweed

Candidates for the Valuing Diversity, Ferd Candidates for the Valuing Diversity, Ferd Keisel Memorial Award, Marcus Foster Keisel Memorial Award, Marcus Foster Award, Robert E. Kelly Award and Robert Award, Robert E. Kelly Award and Robert Gray Award can be nominated to the Region Gray Award can be nominated to the Region Board for consideration. Please submit a Board for consideration. Please submit a letter with your regionletter with your region’’s candidates and the s candidates and the reasons for your nomination to Maria reasons for your nomination to Maria Thompson by January 14, 2016.Thompson by January 14, 2016.

#2 Recycle, Reduce, Reuse!#2 Recycle, Reduce, Reuse!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

Keep an electronic bank of narratives and Keep an electronic bank of narratives and letters of references. This gives you a letters of references. This gives you a starting point to get people to help with the starting point to get people to help with the writing when they can see an example of writing when they can see an example of what a good narrative or letter of what a good narrative or letter of recommendation looks like.recommendation looks like.

#1- All Awards Materials Must #1- All Awards Materials Must be Complete and Submitted be Complete and Submitted

On Time!On Time!

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before it is its afternoon. December is here before it is June. My goodness how the time has flewn. June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? Dr. SeussHow did it get so late so soon? Dr. Seuss

Completed awards packets MUST be submitted Completed awards packets MUST be submitted to and received by Maria Thompson no later to and received by Maria Thompson no later than Wednesday, January 14, 2016 at 5:00 PM. than Wednesday, January 14, 2016 at 5:00 PM.

Maria Thompson, Principal, Royal Oak Middle Maria Thompson, Principal, Royal Oak Middle School 500 N. Lorraine Ave. Covina, CA 91724 School 500 N. Lorraine Ave. Covina, CA 91724 OR mthompson@cousd.net.OR mthompson@cousd.net.