School Business Office Professional of the Year
Background/Purpose
This award acknowledges the value and need to recognize outstanding members of the school business office. While WASBO recognizes the work Business and Facilities Managers do to help our students and schools, WASBO also wanted to recognize those in accounting, payroll and human resources who help keep the lights on, staff members and bills paid, provide an additional layer of fiscal security and much more. This award also acknowledges the spectacular contributions of those who are making a difference to their local school district, community and the business office profession.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible the nominee must:
- Be employed as a business office professional, including those in bookeeping, payroll, accounts payable and human resources.
- Award not meant for those who serve as a Business Manager. Instead, consider nominating a colleague for School Business Manager of the Year Award.
- Not have received a WASBO Award in the past five years.
Current members of the Board of Directors are ineligible for the award and may not nominate a candidate for the award.
Nominations may be made by any WASBO member (with the exception of current Board members), a district administrator, a professional colleague or a WASBO Regional.
Nomination packets may, but are not required to, include letters of recommendation from the following:
- The nominee’s district administrator;
- The nominee’s colleagues in your area, or from throughout the state;
- School board members;
- Local officials;
- Community organizations the nominee actively participated in and provided leadership to.
Please limit submitted letters to no more than six (6).
Selection Criteria
The following criteria shall be considered when selecting the School Business Office Professional of the Year:
Leadership in the Schools – The candidate has demonstrated efforts to significantly improve district operations, save district resources, and/or enhance student learning.
Continuing Professional Development – Evidence of continuing efforts to learn and grow as a professional has been demonstrated.
Active Participation in the Community – Evidence of meaningful involvement in the local community that goes above and beyond the recipient’s professional duties.
Recognition
The School Business Office Professional of the Year Award recipient will be recognized at the School Business Office Professionals Conference.
The recipient receives a plaque and a check in the amount of $1,000 to be used for the school business office professional’s continuing education, attendance at conferences or seminars, membership dues, or related activities or resources contributing to his/her professional development. Press releases will also be issued to local media outlets.
Selection Process
A WASBO committee will select the recipient of this award. The recipient will be recognized at the School Business Office Professionals Conference.
The WASBO Board of Directors considers nominations at its Board meeting following the nomination deadline and selects the Award recipient. The Board’s decision is final.