Charter Excellence Awards

At INCS, we value educational equity and excellence above all else. We know neither is possible without the contributions of teachers, principals, families, and students, and so each year we honor community members who go above and beyond for their schools. The 2024 INCS Charter Excellence Awards are an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding individuals across the Illinois charter community who make charters the transformational schools they are.

Nominations for the 2024 awards are now closed.

About the Charter Excellence Awards

The annual INCS Charter Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding achievement of educators, parents, students, and advocates across Illinois’ charter public schools. With generous support from Invest for Kids, INCS offers financial awards in the following categories:

  • Charter Principal of the Year – $10,000
  • Charter Elementary Teacher of the Year – $10,000
  • Charter High School Teacher of the Year – $10,000
  • Charter School Parent Advocate of the Year – $500
  • Outstanding Illinois Charter School Senior – four seniors will be selected to win a $1,000 scholarship each.
  • Outstanding Illinois Charter School Eighth Grader – two eighth graders will be selected to earn a $500 scholarship each.

INCS will notify winners in mid-November and will recognize them publicly at the INCS Charter Excellence Awards on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in Chicago.

Charter School Principal of the Year

A strong nominee for the 2024 Charter School Principal of the Year will:

  • Demonstrate a clear and shared vision for the school.
  • Regularly innovate to support students and staff and share what is working more broadly.
  • Practice servant leadership and focus on the growth and well-being of staff, students, and families.

Nominees must meet the following requirements:

  • Committed to the charter school model and served in a leadership position at their current school for at least two years.
  • Lead a high-performing school; the school must be exemplary or commendable under ISBE guidance for the school year 2022-2023.

Charter Elementary Teacher of the Year

A strong nominee for the 2024 INCS Charter Elementary Teacher of the Year will include:

  • Demonstration of strong teaching and pedagogical skills
  • Evidence of a strong classroom culture with robust support for students
  • Participation in extracurricular supports for their students
  • Collaboration with their colleagues and mentoring of less-experienced teachers

Nominees must be a K-8 teacher who has taught at the charter school for at least two years.

Charter High School Teacher of the Year

A strong nominee for the 2024 INCS Charter High School Teacher of the Year will include:

  • Demonstration of strong teaching and pedagogical skills
  • Evidence of a strong classroom culture with robust support for students
  • Participation in extracurricular supports for their students
  • Collaboration with their colleagues and mentor less-experienced teachers

Nominees must be a 9-12th grade high school teacher who has taught at the charter school for at least two years.

Illinois Charter School Parent Advocate

A strong nominee for the 2024 INCS Charter School Parent Advocate of the Year will have:

  • Demonstrated a solid and long-term commitment to the school
  • Advocated for the school in a public setting, including with elected officials and other parents
  • Advanced the mission and success of the school in a specific way(s)

Nominees must have a child who has been enrolled in an Illinois charter school for at least 3 years. If their child has attended multiple charter schools, please list all schools and the number of years they have been a charter school parent. The nominee must also be involved with his/her charter school’s parent group and/or have a leadership position at the school. Please note any special awards or recognitions.

Outstanding Illinois Charter School Senior

A strong nominee for the 2024 INCS Outstanding Illinois Charter School Senior will:

  • Demonstrate leadership at their school
  • Show a commitment to their school through participation in various groups, clubs, or advocacy efforts
  • Showcase strong academic achievement

Nominees must meet the following requirements:

  • Must graduate high school in 2025 and attend college or have other post-secondary plans for the 2025-2026 year.
  • Must have attended the school in the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and the current school years.

Outstanding Illinois Charter School Eighth Grader

A strong nominee for the 2024 INCS Outstanding Illinois Charter School Eighth Grader will:

  • Demonstrate leadership at their school
  • Show a commitment to their school through participation in various groups, clubs, or advocacy efforts
  • Showcase strong academic achievement

Nominees must meet the following requirements:

  • Must graduate from 8th grade in Spring 2025 and with plans to attend high school in the 2025-2026 year.
  • Must be involved in student leadership positions, such as student government, programs, clubs, teams, tutoring, etc.

 

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