D. Student Recognition Systems
When students step up, they deserve to be spotlighted. A school is stronger when it has a culture of positive student recognition systems. Below are a few examples of programs that I have seen a need for and implemented.
School Ceremonies
(Host / Announcer)
Since 2014, I have been involved in whole school celebrations that honor students. I enjoy being able to speak positively about students, as well as keeping to an itinerary of an event.
School Events
Honors Nights | host (2013 - 2015)
Senior Gala | host (2014 - 2015)
Teacher Trivia | host (2016 - 2018)
Athletic Events
Football Games | announcer (2015)
Soccer Games | announcer (2016)
Pep Rallies | co-host (2013 - 2016)
Formal Events
Graduation | name reader (2014 - 2015)
JROTC Military Ball | speaker (2015)
NCAA Signing Days | host (2016)
Student of the Day Program
(Founder / Coordinator)
In 2015, I created a Student of Day program to give teachers a platform for celebrating fantastic students. Each week, I collected teacher recommendations for student celebrations and prepared a set of certificates. The certificates described why the students were receiving the award and were signed by two members of the administration and two students with leadership positions at the school. Each morning, the school spotlighted the Students of the Day on the morning announcements, and a small team of my students delivered the certificates and took a photograph of the student receiving the award.
End of the Year Medals
(Founder)
In 2015, I introduced an end-of-the-year awards ceremony that happened all over the school instead of in a big auditorium. The spirit of this recognition system is for all staff members to have personal conversations explaining the positive impacts that the students have had on the school's campus. There are several strengths about using this award system.
Academic Awards celebrate students with one or more of the following qualities:
Commitment to academic rigor
Completion of an outstanding project
Dedication to independent extension
High classroom GPA
High standards of excellence
Large degree of academic improvement
Character Awards celebrate students with one or more of the following qualities:
Citizenship
Collaboration
Curiosity
Humor (Appropriate)
Humility
Improvement
Inclusion
Kindness
Leadership
Patience
Positivity
Resilience and Grit
Respect
Service