Community engagement is an on-going process of two-way communication between a school district and the community it serves. This award recognizes 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 Center Board of Education from 1986 to 2003 and on 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.

Please use the following as guidelines when deciding to submit a nomination. Nominees do not have to fulfill all these specifications; they are only to be used as guidelines. The work of the nominee:

• Helps raise student achievement: helps identify academic goals, standards, resources,
  and measures of progress.
• Serves the cause of school/community engagement and communication.
  Strengthens the whole child: works to improve social and health conditions that can interfere with learning.
• Strengthens communities and schools: convenes community around education issues.
• Strengthens representative and participatory government: involving the public in decision making and engaging citizens with their representative voice in public education governance.
• Shows ongoing and broad involvement in the school and community.
• Shows work that is consistent with school’s vision and mission and consistent with the work of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.