What is Magna?

The Magna Awards is a national recognition program co-sponsored by American School Board Journal, the National School Boards Association, and Sodexo School Services that honors school board best practices and innovative programs that advance student learning.

Magna nominations are judged according to three enrollment categories (under 5,000 enrollment; 5,000-20,000 enrollment; and over 20,000 enrollment) with one Grand Prize Winner in each category. Each Grand Prize Winner receives a $3,500 contribution from Sodexo School Services. There are five additional winners and five honorable mention winners within each enrollment category.

All Magna winners and honorable mention recipients are recognized in a special supplement published with the April issue of American School Boards Journal. The Magna Awards publication is also published online at www.asbj.com/magna.

Winners and honorable mention recipients also are recognized at the School Leaders Luncheon held during the NSBA Annual Conference. Grand Prize Winners and regular winners will receive plaques at the luncheon. Honorable mention districts receive certificates by mail prior to the Annual Conference. Grand Prize Winners receive their cash award during the Monday General Session at the Annual Conference.

For the past 15 years, the Magna Awards panel of independent judges has reviewed programs that showcase school district leadership, creativity, and commitment to student achievement. The Magna Awards 2009 online nomination form is available here. We look forward to reviewing your district's nomination.

Good luck!


CRITERIA
To determine the winners of the Magna Awards 2009, the judges will look for programs that are: 
  • The result of appropriate school board leadership.
  • Developed or actively supported by the school board.
  • Successful in view of the program's primary objectives.
  • Important in promoting the district's mission and advancing student learning.
  • Capable of being replicated by other school boards with similar conditions and resources.
  • The result of collaboration between the school board and others. 

MAGNA AWARDS FAQs

When is the deadline?
October 15, 2008

How do I send in my nomination?
Only nominations that have been submitted online will be accepted.

Are there any restrictions on who can submit a nomination?
If you are nominating a program from a school district in the U.S., the district must be a member of your state school boards association to be eligible. The exceptions are districts in Nevada and West Virginia.

How many nominations can we send in?
There is no limit.

If I have nominated a program previously, can I nominate it again?
Yes, you can.

How do I know you got my nomination?
You will receive an automatic message when your nomination has downloaded to the database. If your screen does not refresh and display the message "YOUR NOMINATION IS COMPLETE!" then we have not received your nomination. Please try again, and if you continue to have difficulty please call 703-838-6739 for assistance.

What about backup materials?
Less is more. Backup materials are welcome but will not significantly affect the judges' decisions. Only backup materials that are postmarked by the deadline will be added to your nomination's file for presentation to the judges. Do do not send CDs, videos, or cassette tapes, or ask the judges to view a website as part of your backup materials. The judges will not have the equipment or the time to review these items.

I need to talk to a real person. Who can I call?
You can call Margaret Suslick, Magna Coordinator, at 703-838-6739 for assistance.

When and where is the judging?
The judging will occur in late October or early November at NSBA's headquarters in Alexandria, Va.

Who are the judges?
The panel of six judges is selected to represent large districts, small districts, rural districts, urban districts, administrators, teachers -- and school board members. Although panel members may serve on a panel more than once, the panel’s composition is never the same from one year to the next.

What happens if we win?
If you are a winner, you will be notified within three or four business days following the judges' decision. Notification will be sent to the program's nominator, the district's superintendent, and the school board president.

What happens if we lose?
If your program does not win, you will be notified by e-mail within two weeks of the judges' decision.

When will the winners of the Magna Awards 2009 be announced to the public?
A general announcement about the winners of the Magna Awards 2009 will not be made until mid-March, 2009. 

TIPS ON MAKING YOUR NOMINATION:
Work out all of your responses to the prompts ahead of time in Microsoft Word. Use the Word Count tool to make sure you have not exceeded the length of the field, then cut and paste your response into the online form. The system will not replicate bullets, automatic numbering, bolding, underlining, italics, or special characters such as tildes, accent marks, or symbols -- so do not use them. If you feel it is necessary to use emphasis to get your point across, use caps.

Review the judges' criteria for winning programs before you send in your nomination and make sure that your nomination meets each criterion. Provide proof that your program meets the stated criteria in your nomination's narrative and backup materials. The judges search for programs that are proven to be successful and can easily be replicated by similar districts. Evidence of continuing and appropriate board involvement in the program is required. Be sure to document any evidence that your program meets the stated criteria in your nomination.

Only nominations that have been submitted online will be accepted. Nominations submitted in any other way will be considered disqualified and will not be presented to the judges.

Backup materials: Remember, less is more.
The judges will make decisions about a program based on your responses to the prompts on the nomination form. Backup materials are welcome but will not significantly affect the judges' decisions. Only send backup materials that support your program's nomination. Only materials postmarked by the deadline will be added to your nomination's file for presentation to the judges. Please do not send CDs, videos, or cassette tapes, or ask the judges to view your website. The judges will not have the equipment or the time to review such backup materials.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ABOUT THE MAGNA PROGRAM?
Send us a message using our Magna Question form.