How to Write How to Write Award Winning Award Winning

ACSA ACSA NominationsNominations

Jennifer RootJennifer RootJune 25, 2013June 25, 2013

Top Ten to Winning Top Ten to Winning AwardsAwards

How I got started…How I got started…

My track record…2 state level winners and My track record…2 state level winners and 11 or so local winners in about 8 years11 or so local winners in about 8 years

#1- You can’t win if you #1- You can’t win if you don’t play!don’t play!

Who in your District Would Who in your District Would you Nominate Right Now?you 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? All Most important…are they ACSA members? All nominees (with the exception of Every 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)Coverage)

Our list goes out in September to gather Our list goes out in September to gather names. All members have the privilege of names. All members have the privilege of nominating their colleagues.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 If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail…Benjamin Franklinfail…Benjamin Franklin

Identify who is a person in your charter Identify who is a person in your charter who could serve as your Awards who could serve as your Awards Chairperson? They need to be organized, Chairperson? They need to be organized, good writing and editing skills, and be good writing and editing skills, and be outgoing to ask for letters of reference outgoing to ask for letters of reference and narratives)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 it’s the only thing that ever has! Indeed it’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. that they understand the selection criteria. Is your charter nominating simply to Is your charter nominating simply to recognize at the charter level or are you recognize at the charter level or are you trying to win the awards at the Region and trying to win the awards at the Region and State level?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 don’t Start in September! The administrators don’t usually change between August and January so usually change between August and January so make your selections early so you have time make your selections early so you have time to do a quality time writing and editing as to do a quality time writing and editing as well as gathering reference letters.well as 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. regardless of cost to us. Arthur C. NielsenNielsen

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 creative (but honest)…the goal should be to fill all of the lines ESPECIALLY be to fill all of the lines ESPECIALLY about ACSA participation.about ACSA 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 committee that your candidate is the BEST. It’s not the time to be humble.be 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 their accomplishments. Talk with their boss and get quotes about their performance.about their performance.

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

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

Get 2 letters of reference for every nomination. When you Get 2 letters of reference for every nomination. When you submit one, it makes the readers think there wasn’t anyone submit one, it makes the readers think there wasn’t anyone to write a second one.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 nomination Provide your letter of reference writers with the nomination form and narrative to ensure they know what you’re form and narrative to ensure they know what you’re highlighting. Also ensure that the writers know the highlighting. Also ensure that the writers know the criteria for the awards.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 letters Assign you board members and Superintendent to the letters for your strongest candidates.for your strongest candidates.

#3 Nominations for Other #3 Nominations for Other AwardsAwards

I don’t care who does the electing as long I don’t care who does the electing as long as I get to do the nominating. Boss Tweedas I 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 region’s candidates and letter with your region’s candidates and the reasons for your nomination to the reasons for your nomination to Jennifer Root by January 14, 2014.Jennifer Root by January 14, 2014.

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

Imitation is the sincerest form of Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Mahatma Gandhiflattery. Mahatma 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 starting point to get people to help with the writing when they can see an example the writing when they can see an example of what a good narrative or letter of 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 On be Complete and Submitted On

Time!Time!

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

Completed awards packets MUST be submitted to and Completed awards packets MUST be submitted to and received by Jennifer Root no later than Monday, received by Jennifer Root no later than Monday, January 14, 2014. January 14, 2014.

Jennifer Root Director of Student Services 519 E. Jennifer Root Director of Student Services 519 E. Badillo St. Covina, CA 91723 OR Badillo St. Covina, CA 91723 OR jroot@cvusd.k12.ca.us or (626)974-7060.or (626)974-7060.

On or before January 15 you will receive a list of On or before January 15 you will receive a list of all of the nominees from your district to verify that all of the nominees from your district to verify that we have received them all.we have received them all.