Nominate a teacher, staff member, or volunteer for 2016 ACE Awards

Long past our school years, we remember the teachers, counselors, principals, school support staff, and volunteers who made a difference in our childhoods. We believe that every child in our community’s schools today has a special connection they’ll remember when they too reach their adult years and responsibilities.

In the Eugene–Springfield community, we believe in the power of public education for every child, and in the power of celebrating those who devote their lives to that cause.

Please join us in honoring our local educators and education supporters who make a difference for kids.

Honoring teachers and education supporters

Who makes a difference for your child in the Eugene 4J, Springfield or Bethel school districts? Does your child’s teacher deserve kudos for his or her talents, enthusiasm, and unflagging efforts to make sure every student learns and progresses every day? Does your principal, school secretary, or instructional assistant regularly go above and beyond?

Your special person could be the custodian who quietly keeps everything spick-and-span and running smoothly, or the bus driver who always greets your kiddo with a smile. Or maybe it’s the person preparing or serving lunch, or the parent who supports every school event and volunteers to make popcorn every week.

Now is your chance to honor these special people for everything they do for kids.

The annual ACE (A Champion in Education) Awards are an outstanding opportunity for parents, students and community members to ensure those special people get some much-deserved recognition. Nominations are being accepted now through March 14.

2016 ACE Awards

The annual ACE Awards are organized by the Eugene, Springfield and Bethel school districts and the Eugene and Springfield chambers of commerce, and supported by sponsors from the local business community.

Each year, the ACE Awards program honors education leaders in each school district. An elegant ceremony at the Hult Center will honor nominees and present awards.

Champions in each of the three metro school districts will be named in four categories:

 • Teachers and other licensed staff (such as counselors, nurses and librarians)

• Administrators (such as school principals or district–level leaders)

• Classified staff (other school district employees such as secretaries, classroom assistants, maintenance staff, bus drivers, and so on).

• Volunteers (every school depends on the gifts of volunteers’ time and talents!)

Adding to the honor of the recognition, each of the 12 champions will receive a $1,000 prize for a program or project at their school.

Nominating your champion

Nominations will be accepted through March 14.

It’s easy to throw someone’s name into the ring, but submitting a winning nomination takes a little up-front work.

Visit the ACE Awards website (www.theaceawards.org) and click on the “Nominating” tab. If you’re uncertain about which category is the right one for your nominee, ask your school district.

Pro tips: Write your nomination in a separate file and then copy it into the online form—this will make sure your hard work is saved in case of any computer glitches. Consider asking other people to send you letters of support—the stronger the nomination, the better. Testimonials from students can be especially powerful.

Celebrating champion educators

ACE Awards nominees will be recognized in a special ceremony at the Hult Center on April 19—be sure to reserve your seats early! The champions will be announced at the ceremony.

Every day teachers, volunteers, principals, counselors, custodians, nurses, bus drivers and other educators and education support professionals make a difference for kids in our community. Let’s make a difference for them.

Nominations will be accepted at www.theaceawards.org through March 14. Please write your nomination today!