Awards Nominate a Colleague Communication Technology Award for Superintendents

The nomination period for the 2023 Communication Technology Award for Superintendents Award closed in April. A recipient will be announced in June.

The Communication Technology Award for Superintendents Award recognizes a practicing superintendent or CEO of a school district, education agency or service center for leadership in redefining, upgrading and integrating cutting-edge communication technology to improve and expand outreach and engagement with education stakeholders — both internal and external.

Eligibility

Eligible nominees must:

• Be a practicing superintendent or CEO of a school district, education agency or service center.
• Currently be employed by a U.S. or Canadian K-12 public school system.

Nominees do not have to be an NSPRA member.

Nomination Components 

The nomination form includes areas to attach the following: 

• A brief vita for the superintendent, outlining career highlights and professional achievements.
• Up to four (4) letters of recommendation.
  • Up to two (2) letters of recommendation from external audiences, who are not employed by the school system (e.g., parent groups, business or civic leaders, education leaders of other school systems).
  • Up to two (2) letters of recommendation from  internal audiences, who are employed by or who lead the school system (e.g., employees, employee associations, school board members).
• An executive summary (no more than 4 pages) that explains how the superintendent and staff work together to redefine, upgrade and integrate cutting-edge communication technology to improve and expand outreach and engagement with education stakeholders. In the executive summary, include web links to supporting publications or examples (e.g., newsletters, communication plans, information brochures, websites, blogs, etc.) that illustrate the communication technology tools described.

In the nomination, be sure to do the following:

• Demonstrate how the communication technology tools are tied to the goals and objectives of the school system.
• Demonstrate the type of new communication technology tools the superintendent has added and how the system is applying them to communicate and engage with a variety of audiences. 
• Follow the four-step process that the application requires, including research, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrate how measurable results are attributable to the overall communication program and the superintendent’s professional goals. 

Recipient Selection

Judging will emphasize the type of new communication technology tools that the nominee has added and how the nominee is applying them to improve and expand outreach and engagement with a variety of education stakeholders. Following are the criteria to be considered by judges: 

• The superintendent's school system has a plan that integrates a strategic technology communication component.
• The superintendent supports a culture of transparent, two-way communication.
• The superintendent models the use of communication technology for all school administrators.
• The superintendent holds all school administrators accountable for effectively using communication technology.
• The superintendent uses a variety of communication technology tools to improve and expand outreach and engagement with education stakeholders, both internal and external audiences.
• The superintendent's communication technology usage is monitored and measured. 
• Communication activities related to this award were implemented during the current or most recently preceding school year.

Recognition and Award Presentation

The current year Communication Technology Award winner will receive:

• Complimentary registration to the upcoming NSPRA National Seminar,
• A formal presentation of the award during a General Session at the Seminar and
• One night of lodging, arranged by NSPRA, for the evening before the award presentation. 

The award winner also will be invited to present a Skill Session during the Seminar. 

For more information, contact NSPRA at awards@nspra.org or 301-519-0496.

View a list of previous recipients.