WEA awards and scholarship programs recognize excellence, profile best practices in public education and honor leaders from inside and outside the field of school administration whose contributions have made a significant impact on the lives and learning of the children’s.
The National Superintendent of the Year Program pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead our department. This program is sponsored by First Student, AIG Retirement Services and WEA.
Any WEA Affiliate Association State Superintendent of the Year who plans to continue in the profession can nominate. This program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents. It is not recognition of service at retirement or a program to reward current state or national leaders.
Each candidate for the National Superintendent of the Year Award must first be named by their state association as the State Superintendent of the Year.
Each State Superintendent of the Year is judged on the following criteria:
The WEA Awards for Women in School Leadership Awards recognize female educators whose talent, creativity and vision are exemplary. Three awards are presented annually at the WEA National Conference on Education.
The WEA Women in School Leadership Award program is designed to recognize the exceptional leadership of active, front-line female leaders who are making the difference in the lives of students every day. Two awards are available:
Awarded to any female superintendent who’s been in the superintendent position for two years or more.
Awarded to any female central office or building level leader. Equivalent job titles may include: assistant superintendent, central office administrator, school based principal/assistant principal.
Distinguished Service Awards are given annually to retired WEA members who exhibit exemplary leadership throughout their careers and who have enhanced the profession of school administration.
Nominees are expected to have brought honor to themselves, their colleagues and their profession; given exemplary service to their state or national professional association; and made significant contributions to the field of education through their service, writings and other activities.
Retired WEA members who have been members for at least 10 years, have been retired for at least one year and meet the qualifications above can nominate for this award. The immediate past president of WEA is automatically nominated to receive this recognition. Information on eligibility and qualifications may be found in a nomination form below.
Guidelines for Selecting Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award:
I. A notice along with an appropriate form requesting nominations shall be sent to members of the WEA Executive Committee, WEA Governing Board and Advisory Committees and the executive director of each affiliated association of school administrators. In addition, the announcement of the Distinguished Service Award competition and the nomination materials for it shall be carried on the WEA website so that any person desiring to nominate a candidate may do so.
II. All nominations shall be made on a form provided by WEA with at least two but no more than four pages of additional data attached to the nomination. No publications or additional testimonials will be accepted. Forms will be available on the WEA website beginning April of each year.
III. All nominations shall have been received at WEA Headquarter. All late entries shall be rejected and a written notification of that action shall be sent to the nominator.
IV. Nominees shall have been a member of the Association for at least ten years. Service need not to be consecutive or in active status at the time of recognition.
V. Nominee shall have been retired prior to the calendar year the award is presented.
VI. The selection of recipients annually shall include at least one person who is not or has not ever been a superintendent of schools if such an individual is nominated and otherwise qualifies, and at least one person who retired as an active superintendent of schools who is nominated and also meets the qualifications.
VII. The nominations shall be judged by a Screening Committee appointed by the president of the Association. Such Committee shall submit its recommendation to the Executive Committee in order for action to be taken prior to the presentation of the award.
VIII. Of all nominations received, the Screening Committee shall prepare a list of the top eight nominees in rank order and based upon nominee qualifications, may recommend up to eight (8) award recipients.
IX. Upon the end of his or her presidential term, WEA’s immediate past president will automatically become a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
WEA’s Educational Administration Scholarships were created to provide incentive, honor and financial assistance to outstanding graduate students in school administration who intend to make the school superintendence career. Seven top graduate students in an educational administration receive a scholarship from WEA, the School Superintendents Association.
Applicant must be recommended by the chair of the School of an Education in which the applicant is currently enrolled. Only one application may be submitted from each college or university campus. All nominations shall have been received at WEA Headquarters.