Excellence in Education Awards

Excellence in Education Awards 1990-2016

The Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education addresses the challenge of maintaining and fostering excellence in elementary and secondary schools by recognizing and rewarding those educators who have made outstanding contributions in their classrooms, schools and communities. The Foundation seeks to foster respect for and appreciation of educators by publicizing their achievements and providing an Annual Educators Forum at which award recipients share their efforts. 

The Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education is a non-profit organization. It serves public school systems represented by The Education Cooperative (TEC), Education Collaborative of Greater Boston (EDCO), Silicon Valley Collaboration, and Region 4 of Houston, Texas.

Nominations must be received by the third Friday on January of each year.  Awards of $500 will be made in April/May at four regional Goldin Foundation Educators Forums where the 6 recipients in each region share their projects and are officially recognized.  Educators, families, and members of communities are welcome to attend. 

Press releases will be sent to local community papers, and information about each award recipient will be included on the Goldin Foundation website.

Eligibility 

Eligibility for the six annual awards of $500 each includes any person or group working directly with students, teachers, and other support staff within the school setting or in the community is eligible to apply.  Eligibility requires participation within the previous school year.

Participants may include, but are not limited to: 

  • certified classroom teachers (experienced or new to the profession)
  • administrators
  • guidance counselors
  • school specialists
  • school nurses 
  • part-time teachers and substitute teachers 
  • teachers’ aides
  • parents and representatives of the community 

Areas of participation may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • enriching innovative programs in the classroom, school or community
  • engaging in professional growth
  • establishing programs for other educators
  • designing programs that focus on special populations
  • developing initiatives for collaboration between the schools and parents or members of the community

Award Criteria

The award is designed to recognize excellence, expertise, and demonstrable achievement in education.  Criteria for this award correspond closely to the Foundation’s belief that educators play a vital role in society supporting young people’s growth and preparing them to be adaptable, flexible, creative, and responsive to future societal changes.

Criteria used in the selection process are:

  1. Demonstrated excellence in education with a tangible product, process, and/or project that has had a successful impact on others.
  2. Evidence of commitment to the growth of young people: respecting individual needs and talents, fostering self-esteem, and encouraging realization of individual potential.
  3. Evidence of outstanding personal and character attributes: setting high expectations for personal achievements and students’ achievements, demonstrating leadership, and acting as a catalyst for others.
  4. Implementation of a creative and innovative approach that has made a difference in one’s classroom and school.
  5. Service as an exemplary model for students, peers, and/or parents and the community.

Nomination Process 

A candidate for an Excellence in Education Award must have a minimum of two nominations by professional educators.  It is possible to nominate oneself; two other nominations by professional educators are still needed. (Note: Supporting statements from others such as colleagues, students, and parents, are encouraged.)

The following information must be included in a nomination packet: 

  1. Nomination Form (The link is on this website.)
  2. A brief statement of the nominee’s current responsibilities
  3. A clear and full description of the significant educational achievement(s) for which the individual is being nominated.  Include specific examples and information on the success, impact, and possible use as a model to others. (Attach all pages to the Nomination Form.)
  4. A brief biographical sketch of the nominee
  5. Statements of endorsement by professional educators (a minimum of 2, a maximum of 8) that comment on the candidate and his/her achievements, approximately 2 pages each.
  6. Any relevant supporting nomination Example: student products

Suggestions for a making a nomination:

The candidate nominated is one who goes “above and beyond” his/her job description and makes a significant impact upon children (directly or indirectly).  The project, product, and/or process of excellence for which the nominee is recognized is a long lasting one, rather than a one time experience for students. 

Additional suggestions for submission of a nomination that make a strong case for a candidate: 

  • Letters of endorsement from students, parents, teachers in addition to administrators
  • Match the criteria with specific examples of working with students and teachers 
  • Provide details about the specific project, product, or process and its impact for which the candidate is nominated. 
  • Give specific examples that elaborate generalized words; for example “creative and innovative approaches” need more information.
  • Provide a complete nomination package.

Nominating letters should be typewritten, double spaced and approximately two pages in length.  Note the candidates’ name on the top of each page. All nominations must be received by the 3rd Friday in January. Please send the Nomination Packet to the host collaborative.

Nominees are from the following consortia and their school districts:

The Education Cooperative (TEC): Canton, Dedham, Dover, Dover-Sherborn, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medfield, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norwood, Sherborn, The Education Cooperative, Walpole, Wayland, Westwood

EDCO Collaborative)/ Metro-West Boston: Acton-Boxborough Regional, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boston Public Schools,  Brookline, Carlisle, Concord, Concord-Carlisle, Lexington, Lincoln, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston, Winchester

Silicon Valley, CA Collaboration: Cambrian School District, Campbell Union High School District, Campbell Union School District, Cupertino Union School District, Fremont Union High School District, Lakeside School District, Loma Prieta School District, Los Altos School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District, Los Gatos Union School District, Luther Burbank School District, Moreland School District, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, Mountain View Whisman School District, Saratoga Union School District, Sunnyvale School District, Union School District

Houston Region 4 Education Service Center: Aldine ISD, Anahuac ISD, Barbers Hill ISD, Channelview ISD, Cleveland ISD, Crosby ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Devers ISD, East Chambers ISD, Galena Park ISD, Goose Creek ISD, Hardin ISD, Houston ISD, Huffman ISD, Hull-Daisetta ISD, Liberty ISD, Sheldon ISD, Tarkington ISD, YES Prep