2021 Staff Awards

Nominations Now Open for 2021 Educator and Staff Awards
Posted on 04/09/2021
Once again, Xenia Community Schools will honor two staff members by awarding an Educator of the Year and Staff Person of the Year Award!

These awards are based on the employee’s dedication to the job, willingness to help colleagues and others, their character, and more. These awards reflect the expectations and high standards we set for Xenia students.

To nominate a deserving educator or staff person, colleagues, parents, and community members are invited to submit a nomination form explaining why the nominee is deserving of this award.

Please note that the award categories for 2021 have been modified from previous years, so be sure to review the criteria completely to ensure you are submitting the strongest possible nomination!

Deadline for nominations: Friday, May 21, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

The winning nominees will receive a recognition plaque and a gift stipend of $1,000, sponsored by the Doug Adams Trust.

Award criteria can be found below, or DOWNLOAD a print-friendly PDF.


2021 XCS EDUCATOR & STAFF AWARDS


Nominations must be completed by Friday, May 21, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The online form must be filled out in its entirety, with all attachments (including additional statements of support), by the deadline. 

An Awards Committee will review all nominations to ensure that each meets the criteria and that the nominee is an employee in good standing; the list of nominees for consideration may be narrowed, based on this evaluation. A panel of judges will review the finalists anonymously (identifying information will be redacted), and select the awardees. 

The judging panel will consist of: at least five (5) members, and will include both certificated and support staff. It may also include active members of the school community not employed by XCS, as well as up to one (1) board member.

Nominations may be submitted by any member of the XCS community, including staff, parents, students, or community members. 

Awards will be presented at the August 2021 Convocation.

To nominate a deserving educator or staff person, submit the online nomination form documenting how the staff member meets the criteria listed for that award. Remember that strong nominations provide detail about how the staff member meets the criteria for that particular award, and highlight the impact made by the staff member. 


EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

QUALIFICATIONS:
The Educator of the Year Award seeks to recognize excellence, encourage creative and quality instruction, and contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education of Xenia Community Schools students. 

• Eligible positions: counselors, librarians, teachers 
• Must hold the appropriate certification/license for their position.
• Must be returning for the following school year.
• Must have been employed by the district for at least two years.
• A nominee of this award should be of high character, be dedicated to their profession, and continually seek ways to improve student achievement.
• Must not have received this award within the past five (5) years. 

NOMINATION CHECKLIST FOR EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
• A 200-word biography written to highlight the nominee’s work history, educational background, honors received and/or other significant achievements. 
• A minimum 500-word description explaining how the nominee meets at minimum one of the following criteria:
   o Instills in students a desire to learn and achieve.
   o Understands the individual needs of students, encourages their talents, and fosters their self-esteem.
   o Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of subject matter and the ability to share it effectively with students.
   o Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
   o Demonstrates outstanding leadership and innovation, 
   o Actively works to improve their own skill sets and knowledge to meet current standards.
   o Excels in other ways that define this person as an outstanding educator.  

Preferred but not required: one to four statements of support, one of which must be from a professional educator.


STAFF PERSON OF THE YEAR

QUALIFICATIONS:
The Staff Person of the Year Award seeks to recognize excellent staff who play a vital role in education for Xenia Community Schools students. 

• Eligible positions include: administrative assistants, cafeteria staff, custodians, maintenance and grounds staff, nurses, paraprofessionals, related services staff including mental health therapists and school psychologists, school resource officer, secretaries, technology staff, therapists, and transportation staff. Employees hired by contractors of the district are eligible for this award. Principals, Assistant Principals, Directors, and Coordinators are not eligible.
• Must have been employed in the district for at least two years.
• Must be returning for the following school year.
• A nominee of this award should be of high character, be dedicated to their profession, and continually seek ways to positively improve the culture of their building and/or department.
• Must not have received the award within the past five (5) years. 

NOMINATION CHECKLIST FOR STAFF PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD:
• A 200-word biography written to highlight the nominee’s work history, honors received and/or other significant achievements. 
• A minimum 300-word description explaining how the nominee meets at minimum one of the following criteria: 
   o Demonstrates quality and consistency in their work.
   o Seeks new knowledge and skills.
   o Utilizes technology where appropriate.
   o Fosters cooperative relationships with students, colleagues, and the community.
   o Demonstrates outstanding leadership and innovation. 
   o Is respected by their co-workers.
   o Demonstrates a positive attitude and has a positive effect on others. 
   o Excels in other ways that define this person as an outstanding employee.   

Preferred but not required: one to four statements of support, one of which must be from a colleague or administrator.