Award Nominations

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) is pleased to invite nominations for our annual awards program. These awards honor educational leaders who exemplify excellence, innovation, and dedication to public education across Minnesota.

The awards nomination window remains open until December 31, and all candidate materials must be received by January 12 to be considered. All award recipients will be announced publicly the week of February 16.

We encourage you to nominate a deserving colleague who demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment to students, staff, and communities.

MASA Distinguished Service Award

MASA has periodically selected recipients to receive the MASA Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented at the MASA Spring Conference.

Selection Criteria

The recipient of the Distinguished Service Award will:

• Have a positive history/association with Minnesota public education. This history/association may be directly tied to the learning process such as practicing administrator, teacher, etc. OR indirectly such as legislator, professional organization employee, member of the media, etc.
• Have contributed/participated in activities that improve Minnesota’s public education system on a statewide basis.
• Have a reputation as a person who willingly goes the extra mile.
  
  

The recipient receives:

• Individual award plaque
• News Release
• Speaks briefly at the spring conference

Kay E. Jacobs Award

The Kay E. Jacobs Memorial Award recognizes outstanding educational leadership by a female MASA member. The award honors the legacy of Kay Jacobs, former Assistant Superintendent of Mahtomedi Schools, who was a dedicated leader and active MASA member until her passing in 1979.

Kay’s contributions to MASA and other professional organizations reflected her commitment to educational excellence and leadership. This award continues her legacy by celebrating women leaders who embody her vision, dedication, and service.

Award Criteria
Nominees must:

• Demonstrate strong leadership and active involvement in MASA and other educational organizations, as Kay Jacobs did.
• Be an active female member of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Award recipient receives:

• Presented during the MASA Annual Spring Conference
• A plaque
• A $1,000 monetary award
• Complimentary Spring Conference registration
• Recognition through a MASA news release

This award is sponsored by PTMA Financial Solutions.

Outstanding Central Office Leadership Award

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators is pleased to sponsor the MASA Outstanding Central Office Leader Award, presented each spring in recognition of exemplary school leadership by non-superintendent MASA members who are Central Office Administrators exhibiting a willingness to risk, possessing strong communications skills, who are progressive change agents, and who have high expectations for self and others. Two awards will be presented annually: one from greater Minnesota (Regions 1-8) and one from the metro area (Region 9).

Criteria

• The recipients must be an active member of Minnesota Association of School Administrators.
• The recipients must be in a non-superintendent central office leadership role at the time of selection.
• The recipients must have demonstrated exemplary professional and organizational leadership in their central office role.
• The recipients must have demonstrated active involvement in educational and community affairs.
• The recipients must be regarded as a role model by MASA colleagues.

Award recipient receives: 

• The awards will be presented at the MASA Spring Conference.
• Each recipient will receive a recognition plaque.
• A news release will be distributed to pertinent media in the coverage area of the recipient.

MASA Polaris Award

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators, with the support of Ehlers, Inc., is pleased to sponsor the Polaris Leadership Award, presented each fall in recognition of exemplary school leadership by an MASA member with twenty or more years of administrative experience.

Criteria

• The recipient must be a current active member of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.
• The recipient will have at least twenty years of successful educational administrative experience. Administrative experience may include the principalship, central office administration, and/or the superintendency.
• The recipient shall have demonstrated the following attributes or characteristics throughout their career:
  • professional courage leading to positive change
  • creation of a legacy of excellent leadership
    a lifelong career contribution of commitment to excellence on behalf of all students
  • exemplifying positive reasons that a person would choose to practice
  • fostering innovation and ideas that make a difference for students and the school community
  • a lifetime of balanced achievement inside and outside of education
  • contribution to the practice of educational leadership through example and mentoring
  • exemplary conduct reflecting integrity and bearing emulation
  • significant tenure in each position to support the district vision and affect positive change.

Award recipient receives: 

• The award is presented at the MASA Fall Conference and speaks briefly.
• The recipient receives a recognition plaque and a monetary award.
• Complimentary Fall conference registration
• The recipient will be asked to address the conference attendees.
• A news release will be distributed to pertinent media in the coverage area of the recipient.

This award is sponsored by Ehlers, Inc.

Richard Green Scholar

The Richard Green Scholar Award recognizes the scholarly work and professional growth of Minnesota school leaders. Each year, one MASA member is honored for authoring and presenting an original paper that reflects excellence in educational leadership. The program is sponsored by Cuningham Group Architecture in memory of Dr. Richard R. Green, former Minneapolis Superintendent, known for his innovation and child-centered leadership.

Submission and Selection

Each winter, MASA members are invited to submit summary proposals for their papers. A subcommittee of the MASA Executive Development Committee reviews the proposals and selects the Richard Green Scholar based on the quality and relevance of the submission. The selected scholar is announced at the MASA Spring Conference and will present their paper at the MASA Fall Conference.

Papers must reflect the work of one author who is a member of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate that the paper will:

• contribute to the curriculum of the annual Fall Conference with content pertinent to the practice of excellent school leadership
• present information that is technically sound
• present original material that has not been previously published
• not be commercial in nature and not promote specific companies or product

Award

• Individual award plaque
• Monetary Award (currently $1000)
• News Release
• Complimentary conference registration Fall Conference
• Speaks at the Fall conference as general session speaker

This award is sponsored by Cuningham.