OSSBA Recognition of Board Members and Community Leaders 

OSSBA is accepting nominations for outstanding board members and community leaders.  The awards will be presented during the General Session on Saturday, August 23, at the 2008 Conference and Exposition, at the Cox Business Services Convention Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.   

The awards include:

Distinguished Service Award
Given to a present or former member of a public board of education who has exhibited distinguished service to the school and community during his or her tenure on the school board. Factors to be considered will be length of service; distinguished service acts for students, school, professionals, patrons, community and/or state; and distinguished service to the OSSBA.

OSSBA All-State Board of Education
An honorary board and will include five of the most outstanding school board members of the year. A $400 award will be given to each school district with an All-State Board of Education member.  The award is to be used for the core curriculum program of the winning board member’s choice. Nominees must be elected or appointed school board members currently serving on a board of education and should have attended OSSBA, District Meetings, and workshops in the past.

Buddy Spencer Leadership Award
Presented to one of the All-State Board of Education members; therefore, no direct nomination is required for consideration. The recipient must demonstrate leadership on a local or state level and a dedication to improving his or her boardsmanship. The winner’s school district will receive $600 to purchase library books or materials.

Barbara Lynch “Community Partner” Award
Community engagement – on-going process of two-way communication between a school district and the community it serves.  An on-going, collaborative process during which the school district works with the public to build understanding, guidance and active involvement in the education of the children in its community. In honor of Barbara Lynch, who served on the Tulsa Technology Board of Education from 1986 to 2003 and a member of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association Board of Directors from 1993 to 2003. In addition to being a school board member, Barbara was also a community volunteer with the PTA and Boy Scouts, and was a parent and vital member in the Broken Arrow community.  This award honors her spirit of community engagement and service. You may nominate a community member or organization that actively supports and works with your school district to help children and their education, the school system and the community.  All nominations must be made by school board members or superintendents (with the approval of their local board). Those eligible to receive awards include board members of a school district or career-tech board of education (and a community member or organization in the case of the Barbara Lynch Award). The OSSBA Awards Committee will make the final selections. No member of the Awards Committee will be from a nominating school district.

To Download Nomination Forms, Please Click here