GSBA Leading Edge Award

The GSBA Leading Edge Award seeks to highlight school districts that are leading the way in ensuring students are competitive in an ever-changing global market.

This unique achievement will recognize innovative design and implementation of projects and programs by local governance teams that are having a significant positive impact on student achievement and engagement. The award is open to any school system in Georgia.

The awards are presented at the GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference in Atlanta. The Award will be rated and scored by an outside organization. We look forward to honoring the outstanding work of school districts all over Georgia.

Throughout the year, Leading Edge Award recipients may be asked to present on their recognized program at GSBA trainings and events.

The applicants select one of the 9 components of the Georgia Vision for Public Education that aligns to their innovative practice.

1. Continuous Improvement
2. Communication
3. Early Learning & Student Success
4. Teaching & Learning
5. Teaching & Learning Resources
6. Human & Organizational Capital
7. Governance, Leadership & Accountability
8. Culture, Climate & Organizational Efficacy
9. Financial Resources

Leading Edge Award applications opened on Friday, August 19.

GSBA will be utilizing Award Force, an online platform, to streamline this year’s 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. If you have already created an account for the Board Recognition Program, you do not have to create a new one. Simply log in with your existing username and select the Leading Edge Award application. If you have not previously created an account in Award Force, please do so when the application becomes available on August 19. If you would like to watch a demo of how the Award Force platform works, please click here.

Program Deadlines & Reminders

• The Leading Edge Award application process opens on Friday, August 19, 2022, and closes on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 5:00 pm.
• Returning applicants must submit different innovative practices for this year’s competition.
• Districts may select only 1 of the 9 components of the Georgia Vision Recommendations (listed above) that aligns with their innovative program. More information on the Vision Components can be found here.
• These awards will be presented at The GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference in December 2022.
• Recipients of the Leading Edge Award may be asked to present at future GSBA trainings and events.

Please note:

The Leading Edge award and the Governance Team of the Year award are different from the board recognition program (Quality, Distinguished & Exemplary Boards). The board recognition program still exists and will be awarded this year at the GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference.