Recognition

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. In addition to the qualifications for the specific awards listed below, applicants must be a member in good standing of SAANYS as of the date they submit their completed application(s) and must submit at least two (2) letters of recommendation.

For more information on the SAANYS awards program, please contact Holly Bell at hbell@saanys.org.

Download the brochure here.

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 school districts or BOCES or in other cooperative efforts. These positions may include districtwide instructional, non-instructional and support positions that promote and encourage collaboration among multiple buildings and/or districts. Individuals in the titles of principal and/or assistant principal do not qualify for this award unless they hold multiple positions within the same district or BOCES.

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.

Essential Service Leader Award

This award is designed to recognize the invaluable services provided by civil service supervisors, administrators, managers, and support personnel who keep our schools and BOCES safe, effective, and welcoming environments for students and staff. The award winner shall be a civil service employee of a school district or BOCES serving in a provisional, probationary, or permanent capacity, who has demonstrated their dedication to the public education system by maintaining the fundamental systems and facilities necessary for the safe and efficient running of our schools.

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/NAESP Elementary Assistant Principal Awards (Elementary and/or Middle Level)

  • Must be a member of NAESP at the time of nomination.
  • Is a practicing assistant principal with at least two years of experience in the role.
  • Demonstrates exceptional leadership in a particular school program.
  • Is respected by and sets high standards for students, colleagues, parents, and the community.

SAANYS/NAESP Elementary Principal Awards (Elementary and/or Middle Level)

  • Must have been a member of NAESP for at least one year at the time of nomination and maintain membership through the conclusion of the NAESP Award Ceremony.
  • Is a practicing principal with at least five years of experience in the principalship.
  • Plans to continue as a practicing principal.
  • Must demonstrate evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and to the education profession.

SAANYS/NASSP Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year Awards (Middle Level and/or High School)

  • Must be an active assistant principal of a middle-level or high school. For the middle-level award, must be at a school that meets the middle-level definition (containing some portion of grades 6 through 8). For the high school award, must be at a school that meets the high school definition (containing some portion of grades 9 through 12).
  • Candidate must have served as an assistant principal at one or more middle-level or high schools for three or more completed and consecutive school years.
  • Must complete the online NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year application.
  • Candidate must be a member of NASSP and their state affiliate association at the time of selection and throughout their tenure as State Assistant Principal of the Year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national assistant principal of the year judging, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.
  • Candidates are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession.

SAANYS/NASSP Secondary Principal of the Year Awards (Middle Level and/or High School)

  • Candidate must be an active principal of a middle-level or high school. For the middle-level award, must be at a school that meets the middle-level definition (containing some portion of grades 6 through 8). For the high school award, must be at a school that meets the high school definition (containing some portion of grades 9 through 12).
  • Must have served as a principal at one or more middle-level or high schools for three or more consecutive school years.
  • Candidate must complete the online NASSP National Principal of the Year application.
  • Must be a principal and a member of NASSP and his or her state affiliate association at the time of selection or tenure as state principal of the year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national principal of the year interviews, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.
  • Candidates will have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students, as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.

NASSP Notes: Previous national winners of these awards are ineligible. Current members of the NASSP Board of Directors and current NASSP state executive directors and their respective family members are ineligible. Board members of NASSP are ineligible for consideration for one year after completion of their board service. Candidates must notify NASSP immediately of any change in status as an assistant principal or principal. Failure to notify NASSP of a change could jeopardize a candidate’s eligibility for the national award.

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

Nomination Form