The GSBA Board Recognition Program is a three-tier process to achieve the highest level in board governance. The three recognition levels are Quality, Distinguished and Exemplary, with Exemplary being the highest level.
GSBA developed this program to reflect the state standards, which offers school boards additional ways to increase their effectiveness. The State Board of Education developed the state standards for governance that form the foundation for GSBA’s awards and recognition program.
Boards no longer must go through the 3 levels in succession. The board may apply for the level in which it meets all the criteria.
View the updated FY23 Board Recognition Criteria. All changes are highlighted in yellow.
GSBA will once again be utilizing Award Force, for the board recognition application process. Applicants will have one location to fill out their information, upload supporting evidence, and save and edit their entries up until the deadline. Note: If you have already created an account for Award Force for last year’s application, you do not need to create a new account.
GSBA hosted a webinar to review the updates to the FY23 Board Recognition Program. A link to the updated recording can be found below. A Dropbox link with materials from the webinar can also be found below. This includes the templates that are now required to complete your application as well as some sample documents.
For FY2023, the program has been updated with a small number of additional criteria for the Distinguished and Exemplary Levels. We have also worked to streamline the application process overall.
To streamline the application process, GSBA has now incorporated templates applicants must use when filling out certain sections of the applications. Templates will be available within the application for download and usage in the following categories:
In FY22 there were 14 Quality Boards, 11 Distinguished Boards, and 60 Exemplary Boards.
This Board Recognition Program requires a high level of commitment from school boards and individual members. The ultimate goal is to provide a platform based on governance standards that challenges boards, but creates a culture of success for students and communities.
GSBA’s Beacon award recognizes reporting on public education by people, representatives, or organizations whose coverage or projects over time (rather than a one-time article) has created an understanding of public education issues by informing the general public about programs, policies and/or issues affecting the public schools, students, and/or communities.
Reporting mechanisms include online publications, television programs, radio broadcasts, printed publications, podcasting, etc. The board of education must officially nominate and approve the nomination for a Beacon Award.
Please note: The purpose is not to congratulate school-related production from students or school employees.
Board Signature Document
*This must be signed and uploaded to the Beacon Award application
The Cairo Messenger
Nominated by
Grady County Schools
Radio 96.9 WRDO Morning Show with Micky Helms and Kim Paul
Nominated by
Ben Hill County Schools
Daniel Evans with the LaGrange Daily News
Nominated by
Troup County Schools
The Beacon Award is closed for 2022. It will reopen in fall of 2023.
APPLICATION REMINDERS:
GSBA will continue the regular cycle for the Partnership Commendations, and Board Service Recognition. We offer a variety of other awards for school board members, superintendents and districts in Georgia: