Awards

2024 Annual Georgia Charter School Awards

GCSA continually partners with member schools to increase the overall impact of Georgia’s charter school sector and amplify the great work of charter school teachers and leaders throughout the state.  In that spirit, GCSA presents annual awards (which are school-nominated) that feature outstanding achievements and best practices from the past year.  

School Award 

The Charter School of the Year Award recognizes charter schools that produced game-changing results for the students and communities they serve. Nominees in this category have a clear vision for success and continually push the envelope with unique and adaptive programming, productive community or civic partnerships, and/or in other unique approaches.  A charter school of the year nominee creatively navigates obstacles, tracks program effectiveness, and pivots when needed to ensure positive student outcomes.  The award winner will receive $5,000 for educational use.

Charter School of the Year Award Nomination Form

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Nominate a World-Class Leader and / or Teacher from Georgia Charter Schools

Individual Awards 

The Charter School Leader of the Year Award honors high-capacity educational leaders who effectively harness their vision to drive school culture and performance. The winner of this prestigious award will receive $3,000 for educational purposes. 

Charter School Leader of the Year Award Nomination Form

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The Charter School Teacher of the Year Award spotlights dynamic educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to charter school students, their families, and their communities. The 2024 Charter School Teacher of the Year will receive $1,500 for classroom and educational purposes.

Charter School Teacher of the Year Award Nomination Form

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Award FAQs

Who is eligible for a GCSA Annual Award?

GCSA member schools, school leaders, and teachers. 

Who can nominate a school for an award?

For Charter School of the Year, any GCSA member school, GCSA staffer, or GCSA board member can nominate potential award winners.

For Charter School Teacher of the Year Award, any school leader may nominate potential award winners.

For Charter School Leader of the Year, any teacher or charter governing board member may nominate potential award winners. 

How are winners selected?

Charter School of the Year: Once nominations are submitted, a selection committee made up of GCSA staff members identifies finalists.  All GCSA Conference attendees are eligible to vote for the winner in this category.  We encourage everyone to vote based on merit and not on school affiliation or name recognition.

Charter School Teacher of the Year Award and Charter School Leader of the Year:  Once nominations are submitted, a selection committee comprised of external stakeholders assesses candidates and identifies individual award winners in these categories.

When does the award process begin?

GCSA will accept nominations for Charter School of the Year from Tuesday, February 20, 2024 to Tuesday, February 20, 2024.  Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  Voting for this award will take place LIVE at the GCSA Conference on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Awards Luncheon.  

GCSA will accept nominations for Leader of the Year and Teacher of the Year from Tuesday, February 20, 2024 to Thursday, February 29, 2024.  Winners will be identified and awarded by an external selection committee and announced at the GCSA Conference.

What is required of School Winners and Finalists?

We ask all schools selected as finalists for Charter School of the Year to attend the GCSA Conference Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 and deliver brief presentations on lessons/reflections on what made their work successful, strategies that could be replicable in other places, and lessons learned along the way. We are also requesting for the Charter School Leader of the Year and Charter School Teacher of the Year award winners attend the luncheon.

Past Award Recipients