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Awards and Recognition Tips

In most communities, local educational leadership is provided by professionals and non-educators alike, often with little publicity and recognition. Phi Delta Kappa can greatly enhance its visibility at the local level, and contribute significantly to educational leadership in a broad sense, by implementing award programs designed to honor individuals, organizations, or corporations that have made significant contributions to education at the local level.

This publication has been prepared to assist local chapters of Phi Delta Kappa in initiating and implementing a comprehensive awards and recognition program. Included are:

I. Program objectives

II. Organizing award programs

III. Identifying local chapter awards

IV. Presenting the awards

V. Selecting award recipients

I. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Phi Delta Kappa chapters can accomplish several important goals by planning and implementing comprehensive awards and recognition programs. Two basic needs of most people are recognition for accomplishments and participation in the organizations to which they belong. An awards program can effectively fulfill these needs for many PDK members. Each of the objectives stated below has merit on its own. Together they provide multiple benefits to the chapter, to individual Kappans, and to the community served.

Chapter Visibility
Each community served by Phi Delta Kappa has unique education characteristics. Recognizing the various elements that contribute to the total educational environment is a means by which the local chapter can identify itself with excellence in education.

Member Participation
Use of a committee structure to plan and carry out the various aspects of an awards program allows for maximum participation and encourages involvement in chapter activities. It gives chapters a means of involving several members who are not officers in the operation of chapter business.

Program Attendance
Increased member participation also encourages attendance. By spreading responsibilities over more members, a chapter provides opportunities for more people to become involved and receive recognition for their contributions. Spreading the awards throughout the year further promotes attendance at events by giving all segments of the membership reason to attend and to invite non-members to join chapter activities.

Promotion of Education
A comprehensive awards program, properly publicized and implemented, provides positive visibility for education in the community. It is an excellent opportunity for Phi Delta Kappa to point out the highlights of education and appropriately recognize those responsible.

II. ORGANIZING AWARD PROGRAMS
The development of a credible and vigorous program of awards requires thoughtful, long-range planning. Local chapters can begin on a modest scale and gradually expand into a comprehensive awards program. In addition to recognizing deserving persons for their contributions to education, the program should be designed to bring public visibility and recognition to Phi Delta Kappa. A poorly designed or thoughtlessly implemented program will reflect badly on the local chapter and destroy the integrity of the entire project. Several suggestions that may be of value in initiating a chapter award program are noted below.

1. The first step in developing a program is a chapter awards and recognition committee. This committee assesses needs and develops a plan for implementation. Where an awards program already exists, the committee reviews it and proposes changes or additions. Once proposed programs are adopted by the chapter, subcommittees can be used to administer each part of the program. This places a reasonable workload on members and spreads the responsibility on more members.

2. One of the more difficult tasks is the development of a time schedule that provides for appropriate input for nominees, adequate time for selection of award winners, proper publicity, preparation of award tokens, planning the award occasion, and coordinating all aspects of the award program. To establish target dates, it may help to work backwards on the calendar, step by step, marking task deadlines.

3. After all time factors have received consideration, establish an awards timetable and make it available to all chapter members. In the case of certain types of awards, such as scholarships, be sure to establish both announcement and response dates. After a period of trial and adjustment, there is value in maintaining a consistent pattern of dates and award presentations from one year to the next.

4. The awards committee should be large enough to work in subcommittees on the various award projects, announcement, selection, publicity, protocol, procurement of appropriate awards, etc. The committee chairperson should involve chapter colleagues as needed and keep everyone informed through regular committee reports.

5. Recognize the value of directly involving area school personnel in the process of selecting nominees for awards to students and instructional personnel. Effort should be made, as well, to gain input from the community leaders and organizations for non-educator awards.

6. Although it is more time consuming to include awards for service and success outside the chapter, these external awards often bring the greatest visibility, publicity, and sense of accomplishment to PDK and the local chapter.

7. Whenever an organization decides to recognize excellence through scholarships, awards, and public acclaim, precision and thoroughness are important. Carefully developed policies and procedures will help guard against errors of oversight or omission. Openness and fairness will ensure a credible selection process. The awards committee should have procedures in place for announcing dates, distributing criterion lists and nomination deadlines, and making final award judgments. Thoughtful development of guidelines and timetables, followed by precise and unhurried committee work will bring recognition and prestige to your awards program.

The appendix includes sample guidelines and timetables to assist with a local awards program.

III. IDENTIFYING LOCAL CHAPTER AWARDS

Community and Non-Educator Awards
Major contributions to the progress and development of local area educational programs and institutions are made annually by community members and non-educators. Every community benefits from the educational leadership of local school boards, civic officials, church leaders, heads of organizations, leaders of business and industry, and the media. Look to recognize individuals in public and private groups that have made significant contributions to educational progress.

1. Awards to Individuals

Following is a list of titles used by various chapters to honor outstanding individual contributions to education. In considering titles for awards, "Phi Delta Kappa" (or PDK) should be used to identify our association.

• Friend of Education
• Outstanding School Volunteer
• Advocate for the Public Schools
• Citizen of the Year in Public Education
• Community Educator Award
• Media Person of the Year

2. Group or Organization Awards

Chapters also may wish to consider special awards to local organizations, public or private groups, businesses, or corporations. Titles for such awards include:

• Partner in Education
• Business Leader-In-Education
• Community Education Award
• Excellence in Education Journalism
• The "John/Jane Doe" Award (named to honor a distinguished local Phi Delta Kappan or a prominent local individual, group or organization with a distinguished record in education)
• PDK Man or Woman of the Year

Professional Awards
Many chapters have instituted award programs to recognize the outstanding contributions to education that are made by local professional educators. These awards are open to all educators, Kappans and non-Kappans in elementary, secondary, and higher education. Following is a list of titles in use by chapters that have implemented such awards:

• Educator of the Year
• Outstanding Educator
• Teacher of the Year
• Retiring Teacher of the Year
• Outstanding First-Year Teacher
• Distinguished Service in Public School Administration
• Outstanding Teacher Educator
• PDK Mentor Award
• Service in Education Award
• Leadership in Education Award
• Research in Education Award
• Classroom Excellence
• Administrative Leadership

Phi Delta Kappa Awards
It is also appropriate for local chapters to develop an awards program designed to recognize Phi Delta Kappans for their outstanding contributions to educational leadership, research, and service. This recognition helps to keep members involved in the chapter and in chapter activities. The following list suggests titles appropriate for such awards:

• Annual _________ Chapter Award
• Member of the Year
• PDK Educational Leaders Club
• Distinguished Kappan
• Officers' Commendation
• Past Presidents' Award
• Kappan of the Year
• PDK Service Key
• Outstanding Member Recruitment
• Volunteer of the Year
• PDK Pyramid Award (in Research, Leadership, and Service)
• PDK Fellow Program
• Chapter Hall of Fame
• Emeritus Membership
• 5, 10, 25, 50 Year Membership Recognition
• Founders' or Charter Members' Recognition

Several chapters annually recognize groups of members as part of several chapter meetings spread over the year. Consider an annual meeting including one or more of the following:

• Charter Members' Night
• Emeritus Members' Night
• Past Presidents' Evening
• Decade, Quarter Century, or Half Century Clubs

Student Awards

1. Awards to College or University Students

It is common for chapters to recognize outstanding graduate or undergraduate students through a program of awards and scholarships. Typical titles include:

• PDK Scholarship Award
• Excellence in Education
• Great Expectations Award
• Outstanding Student Teacher
• Outstanding Graduate Student
• Outstanding Thesis Design
• PDK Senior Scholarship
• Student of the Year

2. Awards to Elementary or Secondary Students

An increasing number of chapters have developed award programs to recognize outstanding leadership and scholarship in local elementary, middle, junior high, or senior high schools. Titles common to such programs include:

• Prospective Teacher Scholarship
• Outstanding High School, Middle School, Elementary Student
• Service Project of the Year
• Cadet Teacher Recognition
• Student Leadership Award
• Future Educator Award

Phi Delta Kappa in conjunction with the Educational Foundation annually awards Scholarship Grants for Prospective Educators to high school seniors planning to be professional educators. Chapters may participate in this program by awarding Chapter Scholarship Grants for Prospective Educators and using the application for the international awards. The names and amounts awarded are sent to PDK International for inclusion in the annual scholarship publication.

Special Projects or Educational Programs
In addition to the previous awards, a few chapters have recognized special programs and projects in the educational community. A chapter can identify an innovative or effective curriculum program in a local school district or college, recognize a significant research project conducted by an institution or school district, or honor a private agency or association for a program that benefits public education. Examples of such special project or program awards are:

• Innovation in Education
• Outstanding School District (or school)
• Program of the Year
• Curriculum Excellence
• Excellence in Research
• Outstanding Legislator
• Service to Education
• Unsung Hero

IV. PRESENTING THE AWARD
Two important factors complement the PDK awards program. First, make any award or recognition tangible. Second, spread the presentations throughout the year.

Making the Award Tangible
Phi Delta Kappa honorees are generally provided with an appropriate symbol, suitably inscribed as a memento of the award received. The following are typically used:

• Individual plaques or framed certificates presented to honoree
• Individual plaques hung in a common gallery
• Names inscribed on a perpetual plaque
• Framed certificates of award, honor, or commendation
• Trophies
• Cash Awards
• PDK Service Key
• PDK Past President's Pin
• Pictures and Portraits (hung for public view, sometimes in a common gallery)
• Kappan Subscriptions (frequently used in conjunction with other awards in recognition of community contributions)
• PDK Publications, Clothing, Accessories, or Logo Items
• Other Gifts and Mementos (chapters sometimes create original awards or present practical gifts such as pens, desk sets, calendar books, etc.)

Recognition Throughout the Year
By conferring the awards at different occasions, chapters can increase member participation and chapter visibility. Suggestions for yearlong recognition programs include the following:

• Annually hold a chapter "birthday" party in the month the chapter was installed and recognize the chapter's charter members.
• Honor all past presidents at the installation of new officers.
• Present community and professional awards at an annual banquet.
• Recognize 5, 10, 25, & 50-year members at initiations.
• Hold one or more "special nights" to recognize school board members, new teachers & faculty, parents and parent groups, graduate students, student teachers, community leaders, etc.

V. SELECTING AWARD RECIPIENTS
Criteria for selecting recipients of local awards need to be developed at the local level. Each community and each chapter is unique and should design its award program and criteria to reflect community characteristics and to fulfill chapter goals and objectives.

There are, however, common elements that chapters may wish to consider in implementing a program of awards.

• Recipients are judged in consideration of their contributions to education, especially public education.
• Contributions are recognized in terms of Phi Delta Kappa's ideals of leadership, research, service, practice, and/or scholarship.
• Recipients are selected on the basis of long-term contributions, significant individual accomplishments, or demonstrated potential for future service.

Sample selection materials displayed in the appendix provide further assistance in the development of suitable award criteria. Other suggestions from chapters that are specific to certain awards are noted below.

Community Awards
Each of the area's school districts is invited to select its own Person of the Year. The local PDK chapter honors all of these persons and, in addition, selects one of them as the chapter's Person of the Year or Friend of Education.

Professional Awards
Outstanding Teacher Award. In addition to selecting the outstanding public school teacher for this annual recognition, posthumous awards are considered as appropriate.

Distinguished Service in School Administration. Chapter criteria state that honorees must have completed a minimum of 3O years of service in professional education, with at least some time as an active school administrator.

Phi Delta Kappa Awards
Pyramid Awards: The local chapter uses this award to honor outstanding contributions in each of the traditional PDK areas: Leadership, Research, Service.

PDK Fellow Program: The chapter annually identifies an educator of national note and invites him/her to be a keynote speaker. The speaker is awarded a plaque.

Outstanding Article of the Year: The chapter honors the member who is the writer of the outstanding journal article published during the year.

PDK Memorial: The chapter uses this award to honor deceased members of the chapter. A plaque for each member so honored is placed in a central gallery. A framed photograph also can be used for this purpose.

Kappan of the Year Award: The chapter presents this award to the member most active all-around in chapter activities or a special chapter event.

Guest Speaker Award: The chapter presents each guest speaker with a subscription to the KAPPAN.

Student Awards
PDK Thesis Design Award: The student so honored is presented with a scholarship grant by the local chapter. Upon completion of the degree requirements a follow-up award is presented.

Outstanding Senior Student Award: The chapter presents a framed certificate to the winner selected by each university department sponsoring majors in teacher education.

Teacher Education Scholarship Award: The chapter asks each area high school to nominate its outstanding student who plans to enter teacher education. All of these students are honored, with chapter officials selecting the most outstanding one or two as scholarship winners.

APPENDIX

GUIDELINES FOR CHAPTER AWARDS

SAMPLE AWARDS MATERIALS

CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS FOR PROSPECTIVE EDUCATORS

GUIDELINES FOR CHAPTER AWARDS

Purposes
Phi Delta Kappa award programs should be consistent with the philosophy and purposes of PDK and should not necessarily be limited to Kappans. Specific purposes are to recognize and honor significant contributions to education by:

• community and non-educator individuals, groups, or organizations;
• professional educators;
• Phi Delta Kappans;
• outstanding elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate students; and
• effective and innovative educational programs and projects.

Award Criteria
Specific criteria for selection of recipients should be defined for each award to be given. A standard nomination form should be prepared that presents the criteria for selection, requests the required data for making the selection, establishes a time line, and identifies the selection committee.

Checklist of Procedures

Appoint an Awards Committee and appropriate subcommittees for program implementation

*Recommend awards to be given

*Establish criteria for eligibility and selection of recipients

Establish time lines and set task deadlines

Distribute criteria and solicit nominations on a standard form

Review nominations and make selection(s)

Prepare advance news release for publicity

Select and prepare appropriate award tokens

Make physical arrangements for the formal presentation

Make periodic progress reports to local chapter

Make annual report on awards program to local chapter and PDK Board of Directors

*These items are necessary only when a new award is being initiated.

SAMPLE AWARDS MATERIALS

Research

Service

Leadership

Date _____________

Each year ____________________ Chapter recognizes the achievement of a member through the presentation of the _________________Chapter Award. The Committee needs your assistance in identifying candidates for this important award. The ________________ Chapter Award is explained further on the accompanying pages. Since the recommendation form itself is fairly brief, it would be helpful to the Committee if you would supply appropriate supplementary documentation. You may also wish to call a member of the committee in order to provide additional input. While such documentation is not absolutely necessary, it promises to be of assistance in making a better evaluation of the proposed recipients.

Please send your recommendations for the __________________Chapter Award to a member of the Awards Committee prior to ________________ (specify date) in order that we may have time to carefully consider each nomination prior to making our final report to the Executive Committee.

Very truly yours,
_____________________________
Chapter Award Committee
(signed by committee chairperson)

____________________________, Chairperson

Name ___________________________
Birth Date______________(day/month/year)

Address ________________________________________________

Degree(s) Attained and Year(s) Granted ________________________

Degree in Progress ________________ Institution _______________

Expected Completion Date of Current Degree Program ____________

Professional Experience:

Basis for Recommendation (specific evidences of achievement and performance). Additional comments may be attached.

List of professional organizations to which person belongs:

Signature of Recommending Member _________________________

Signature of Supporting Members: ____________________________

Signature of Supporting Members: ____________________________

Date Recommendation Received by Committee __________________

RETURN BY ______________ (specify date) TO A MEMBER OF THE AWARDS COMMITTEE

Purpose

To recognize and reward Phi Delta Kappans who have shown unusual promise for the profession through their achievement in one or a combination of the following: scholarship, research, leadership, service.

Eligibility

1. The award is intended for Phi Delta Kappa members actively working toward an advanced degree.

2. Candidates for the award must have had a minimum of two years successful experience in teaching, administration, or research (the current year may be included).

The Award

1. The award shall be made at the Chapter's annual Spring Installation meeting.

2. The award will be a cash presentation of $________ and an appropriate certificate.

3. At the discretion of the Executive Committee, transportation and lodging may be provided for the recipient to attend the meeting at which the award is presented.

Procedures for Recommendation

1. A candidate may be recommended by any Phi Delta Kappan in good standing in _____________ Chapter.

2. The candidate shall be recommended on the form adopted by the Executive Committee. The recommendations shall be signed by the recommender and two other Phi Delta Kappans in good standing. Additional supporting data may be submitted.

3. Recommendations must be received by the Awards Committee by __________ specify date) preceding the Chapter's annual Spring Installation Meeting.

You are invited to nominate a candidate for the Annual _________________ Chapter EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR Award. From your nominations, the Phi Delta Kappa Awards Committee will recommend two recipients for the [Fourth] Annual ____________ (city) Educator of the Year Awards to be presented at the Chapter's annual Installation and Award Meeting.

Your awards Committee gives careful consideration to each nominee in the light of criteria originally established when these awards were first conceived. The Chapter's purpose in providing these awards is to give recognition to those individuals concerned with free public education who have made noteworthy contributions in the general fields of educational research, service and leadership.

To fully provide for the recognition of contributors to our public education who are not professionally employed as educators, two awards are given annually. The Professional Educator Award may be given to people employed by the public schools in any professional capacity, as teachers or administrators. On the other hand, the [Citizen of the Year] [Friend of Education] Award may be offered to those not employed in professional capacities by ____________ (city) public schools but who have contributed, in some significant way, to the growth and development of these schools, as school board members, P.T.A. members and other involved community contributors.

The Chapter has been privileged to present these awards to the following recipients in previous years:

For 20 ____ the choice is yours! To recognize an outstanding professional educator or community member, nominate your candidate, now. Simply complete the nomination form on the reverse side. You may return it along with the enclosed ballot envelope or you may mail your nomination directly to the Awards Committee Chairperson. If you want additional forms or would like further information, feel free to contact the chairperson by telephone _____________(telephone number) or e-mail ____________(e-mail address).

______________________ Chairperson

Name of Nominee _____________________________________________

Type of Nomination: Professional _____________ Community __________

Nominee's Title or Position ______________________________________

School or District Address _______________________________________

School or District Address _______________________________________

Reasons for Nomination: Please attach any supporting data.

Submitted by ________________________ ___________ (signature)/(date)

(position) ______________________________________

(address)______________________________________

Return by __________ (specify date) to: ____________________, Chairperson

PHI DELTA KAPPA AWARDS COMMITTEE

______________________ (address)

______________________ (e-mail)

CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS FOR PROSPECTIVE EDUCATORS

Chapters may use the applications for the PDK International Scholarship Grant for Prospective Educators for their chapter scholarship awards program.

The following procedures will apply if your chapter elects to participate in the program.

1. Establish the number and amount of scholarship grants your chapter wants to award to high school seniors planning to pursue teaching careers.

2. Determine the geographical area from which you want to consider applications by identifying the zip codes in the selected area.

3. Request the number of application forms you will need from the International Office. Fifteen are automatically sent to each chapter foundation representative. You may duplicate the application if necessary.

4. Distribute the applications to the high schools and notify each school that the chapter is awarding a grant in addition to the international awards.

5. Notify the Phi Delta Kappa International of the chapter's intent to participate. Please use the Intent to Participate form.

6. Appoint a chapter scholarship grant committee of 3-5 people.

7. The chapter selection committee should review the applications and select the chapter recipient(s).

8. Make arrangements with the recipient's high school counselor for the presentation of the scholarship.

9. Send to the PDK International Office the name of the recipient(s) and the amount of each grant awarded for inclusion in the annual scholarship grant publication.

10. Contact your recipient's college or university to arrange for a transfer of funds. The funds are to be transferred to the school and deducted from the recipient's tuition and fees.