Awards & Scholarships

The Horace Mann/IPA Principal of the Year program recognizes excellence among elementary, middle level and secondary principals. Region and state winners will be selected for each grade level. Self-nominations are welcome.

Criteria

• Membership in the Illinois Principals Association
• A minimum of 5 completed years administrative experience (principal/assistant principal/dean) with 2 of those years serving as a principal at the grade level for which the nomination is made
• Employed as an elementary, middle level, or secondary principal at the time of regional and state nomination and selection
• Demonstrates positive impact on education and advocacy for children
• Demonstrates a commitment to the principalship through active association membership
• Highly respected by students, colleagues and the community
• Maintains an orderly purposeful learning environment
• Shows strong leadership by setting high standards for staff and students
• Assumes an active leadership role in the community
• Active principal at a school in which commitment is clearly evident through programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students through firmly established community ties with parents and local business associations
• Not a paid employee of the IPA at the time of nomination

Award

State Recognition: A plaque and a $1,000 honorarium is presented to the elementary, middle level, and secondary state winners at the annual Education Leaders Annual Conference.

National Recognition: Elementary, middle level, and secondary state winners will have the opportunity to participate in the National Principals Association Principal of the Year Program, if eligible.

Entry Deadline

October 31

The Horace Mann/IPA Principal of the Year program recognizes excellence among elementary, middle level and secondary assistant principals. Region and state winners will be selected for each grade level. Self-nominations are welcome.

Criteria

• Membership in the Illinois Principals Association
• A minimum of 3 completed years experience as an assistant principal
• Employed as an assistant principal at the time of regional and state selection
• Demonstrates positive impact on education and advocacy for children
• Ensures the school climate is positive and reflects high staff and student morale
• Demonstrates a commitment to the principalship through active association membership
• Demonstrates creativity and imagination in bringing about positive change
• Willing to take risks to improve student learning
• Moves actively to implement the goals and objectives of the school
• Works collaboratively with teachers and other staff to improve the educational program and student achievement
• Anticipates emerging problems and acts effectively to resolve them
• Involves the community in the life of the school and uses community resources for students.
• Not a paid employee of the IPA at the time of nomination

Award

State Recognition: A plaque and a $1,000 honorarium will be presented to the elementary, middle level, and secondary winners at the annual Education Leaders Annual Conference.

National Recognition – The elementary, middle level, and secondary winners will have the opportunity to participate in the National Principals Association Assistant Principal of the Year Program, if eligible.

Entry Deadline

October 31

Considered the highest honor bestowed by the Illinois Principals Association, the Herman Graves Award was established in 1991 to recognize Herman for his outstanding service to the IPA. Herman was selected as the first honoree and the award was established because of the intrinsic contributions he made. Yes, Herman had been an officer at the regional level, was a director and served on the Executive Board, and for many years was a state standing committee chairman, but that was not the reason he was honored and an award established in his name. The real reason was that Herman Graves was known as “Mr. IPA” in Region VI and southern Illinois. He never passed up an opportunity to extol the virtues of IPA, whether he was addressing a recently appointed principal, a legislator, a district superintendent or any other individual whom he felt should be informed. He contacted the IPA office, leaders or whomever necessary on a regular basis to alert them to issues he felt were important to the health of the organization. Furthermore, he never contacted anyone without an offer to devote his own time and resources to attack the issue. His enthusiasm for the profession and for the association was always contagious to those around him.

Criteria

• Membership in the Illinois Principals Association
• A minimum of 7 years of active service to the IPA
• Not a paid employee of the IPA at the time of nomination
• Demonstrates positive impact on education and advocacy for children
• An advocate and spokesperson for the IPA
• Longevity of membership in the IPA
• Promotes IPA membership
• Service on IPA state and/or regional levels
• Service on IPA state and/or regional committees as a member or as the chair
• Specific accomplishments and contributions to the IPA

Award

Each region winner is recognized at the regional level with a plaque. The state winner is presented with a $1,000 honorarium and plaque at the annual Education Leaders Annual Conference.

Entry Deadline

October 31

Horace Mann is the proud sponsor of the Illinois Principals Association Awards for Excellence Program. Horace Mann – the largest national multi-line insurance company focusing on educators’ financial needs – provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. “Founded by Educators for Educators” in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, IL. Visit www.horacemann.com for more information.