Awards & Criteria

Each year, SAANYS celebrates exceptional New York State administrators with a state awards program in their honor. This program was established to recognize educators who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and have made exceptional contributions to the educational process. SAANYS is proud to highlight member accomplishments and share their successes.

This year’s nomination process has closed but please consider nominating a colleague for the 2025 awards program online here. For more information on the SAANYS awards program, please contact Holly Bell at hbell@saanys.org.

Leadership and Support Award

The SAANYS Leadership and Support Award was established to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of those members whose responsibilities require leadership through support services to fellow administrators across and between buildings and districts. Such administrators may be employed by BOCES or in other cooperative efforts. These positions include non-instructional and support positions that promote and encourage collaboration among multiple buildings and/or districts.

Outstanding Educator Award

This award is given annually to a SAANYS member who has made outstanding contributions in New York State schools. Potential criteria include: outstanding leadership in public education; outstanding leadership in professional organizations; exemplary service to professional organizations; and/or noteworthy writing and/or research in the field of education. Recognition of SAANYS members of various roles, responsibilities, and titles is encouraged.

Leader in Digital Education Award

This award recognizes a SAANYS member who has demonstrated exceptional, creative leadership in harnessing the potential of technology to further teaching and student achievement. The candidate will have demonstrated excellent organizational and communication skills in supporting and promoting such innovative digital practices for his/her learning community.

Irving Schwartz (Retiree)

Irving Schwartz was one of the founding members of SAANYS. As an NASSP coordinator, he served on the SAANYS Board of Directors through 1994. He supported SAANYS as a Nassau County regional representative for many years, retiring in 1999. This award is given to a SAANYS member who, in retirement, has made significant contributions to the welfare of the association, public education, and/or the greater community.

K-12 Building Principal Award

This award is in recognition of the unique characteristics of a K-12 building and the related demands, expectations, and challenges of a principal in this multi-level environment. It is given to a SAANYS member who is a successful principal of a K-12 building and recognized educational leader who has been a practicing administrator for at least 3 years. Criteria:

Demonstrated leadership in establishing the pace, character, and mission of the building.
Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness in providing comprehensive programs and services for all levels and grades.
Evidence of positive parental and community involvement in the school and student involvement in the community.
Evidence of enhancing positive interaction between all levels of students.
Utilization of outside resources for program enhancement.
Evidence of collaborative involvement of all staff in decision-making and program implementation.
Evidence of instructional leadership in support of quality teaching and student achievement.

Friend of Education Award

This award was established to honor an individual who, or a group or organization that, has contributed to the general support and advancement of outstanding public school education in New York State.

This individual, group, or organization:

Is not a professional educator or educational organization within the K-12 NYS public school system.
Has contributed to the support and advancement of outstanding public school education in a way that extends to the broadest number of students in one or more of SAANYS regions.
Has been a role model for educators and non-educators by consistently demonstrating a belief in the importance and value of a public school education.
Has made these contributions over an extended period of time.

SAANYS is the official state affiliate to the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and their annual awards programs.

SAANYS/NASSP Assistant Principal Award

This award is given annually to a SAANYS and NASSP member who has distinguished herself/himself as an assistant principal. Criteria:

The nominee sets the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in the school.
The nominee is a practicing assistant principal who is committed to excellence.
The nominee has made a commitment to parents and the community.
The nominee has shown evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process.

SAANYS/NAESP Assistant Principal Award

This program promotes educational excellence for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade (PreK-8) schooling and calls attention to the fundamental importance of the assistant principal. NAESP will share their successes and best practices in a practical document for other principals to utilize. Criteria:

The nominee must be an active assistant principal for at least two years.
The nominee sets the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in the school.
The nominee has made a commitment to parents and the community.
The nominee has shown evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process.

SAANYS/NAESP Elementary School Principal Award

This award is given annually to a SAANYS/NAESP member who has distinguished herself/himself as an elementary school principal. Criteria:

The nominee sets the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in the school.
The nominee is a practicing principal who is committed to excellence.
The nominee has made a commitment to parents and the community.
The nominee has shown evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process.

SAANYS/NAESP Middle School Principal Award

This award is given annually to a SAANYS and NAESP member who has distinguished herself/himself as a middle school principal. Criteria:

The nominee sets the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in the school.
The nominee is a practicing principal who is committed to excellence.
The nominee has made a commitment to parents and the community.
The nominee has shown evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process.

SAANYS/NASSP Secondary School Principal of the Year Award (Middle or High School)

This award is given annually to a SAANYS and NASSP member who has distinguished herself/himself as a school principal (middle or high school level). Criteria:

The nominee sets the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in the school.
The nominee is a practicing principal (of at least 3 years) who is committed to excellence.
The nominee has made a commitment to parents and the community.
The nominee has shown evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process.

*For NASSP Nominations: Principal candidates must have served as a principal at one or more middle level or high schools for three or more consecutive school years.

For NAESP Nominations: Principal candidates must have been a member of NAESP for at least three consecutive years at the time of nomination and be a practicing principal with at least five years of experience in the principalship. For AP award, NAESP membership and at least two years of experience in the role.

For additional national rules and criteria, visit: https://nasspawards.org/poy/eligibility | https://www.naesp.org/programs/recognition/ndp/

CONTACT:
Holly Bell
School Administrators Association of New York State
8 Airport Park Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110
Phone: 518-782-0600, Fax: 518-782-9552
www.saanys.org
E-mail: Hbell@saanys.org