Local Unit Awards!

Email our Awards chair.

2024 Miami-Dade County Council PTA/PTSA Local Unit Awards, Criteria, and General Information.

  • Submission deadline: All applications must be submitted by April 15th, 2024, at 11:59 P.M EST.

  • A winner from an Elementary, Middle K-8 and High School will be chosen for EACH AWARD CATEGORY!

  • Finalists in all award categories will be recognized at the virtual celebration.

General Criteria:

To be eligible for any of our awards, a local unit PTA or PTSA must be in “good standing.”

  • Have bylaws that are current (dated no earlier than April 18th, 2021) and bear the Florida PTA stamp of approval.

  • Have paid National, State, and current-year County Council PTA dues by April 1st, 2024.

  • Be IRS-compliant (latest Form 990 filed).

  • Individuals nominated must be a member of the nominating PTA/PTSA for the current membership year.

  • Awards summary must be no longer than 300 words. Awards with more than 300 words may be disqualified.

  • Any local unit applying for the PTA Website Award and the Eugenia B. Thomas Communication award must submit samples to [email protected].

 

Local Unit Awards, Categories, & Descriptions:

Pillar of PTA Volunteer Award

This award recognizes a volunteer that has supported the vision, mission, and the values of PTA and has set an example for others to follow by their service to their school and community.

Pillar of PTA School Site Employee Award

This award recognizes an employee that has demonstrated outstanding commitment and support to the vision, mission, and the values of PTA at your school site. This candidate maybe but not limited to a school counselor, teacher, support staff, etc… Include position at the school site.

Distinguished PTA Family Award

The award is given to a family where two or more members have served faithfully to the maintenance and growth of the PTA. This award is to honor the family who goes above and beyond the scope of theirs positions – a family you can always rely on to be there when extra hands are needed.

Administrator of The Year Award

This award would be to recognize local unit Administrator(s) who is not a Principal that supports PTA/PTSA’s. This Administrator(s) demonstrates extraordinary leadership and dedication to the vision, mission, and the values of the PTA/PTSA at his or her school site, and exhibits outstanding commitment to the parents, students, and staff.

Paul Bell Principal of the Year Award

This award is to recognize a principal who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and dedication to the vision, mission, and the values of the PTA/PTSA at his or her school site, and exhibits outstanding commitment to the parents, students, and staff.

PTA/PTSA Leader(s) of Tomorrow Award / Student Involvement Award

This award recognizes a student or student organization that has supported the vision, mission, and the values of PTA and has set an example for others to follow by their service to their school and community.

PTA Program of Impact Award

This award is presented to a local PTA/PTSA unit who has made a positive impact by providing an effective program or activity that brings families and communities together. The program or activity may include, but is not limited to, legislation, environmental, health, etc...

PTA Environmental Award

This award is to recognize the environmental efforts the local units have done this year. This includes advocacy, education, programs and activities. Describe the type of environmental project or activity the local PTA/PTSA sponsored, initiated, or supported. The local unit must not profit from the program or event. It must support the goals & objectives of PTA.

PTA Safety Award

This award is to recognize the PTA units that offer effective safety programs which provide students, parents, and communities with information on keeping children safe. PTA has always advocated for children’s safety and well-being.

PTA Literacy Award

This award is given to PTA units that promote literacy among students, families, and the community; support the Media Center with activities that help make students better readers, writers, and thinkers; and advance the ideals of learning through the written word.

Ruth Owens Kruse Legislative / Advocacy Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize local units who demonstrate a commitment to fulfilling the PTA Purpose: “To secure adequate laws for the protection of children and youth”. Please submit supporting documentation where possible (copies of programs, letters/emails to elected officials, agendas…)

PTA Website Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the best PTA/PTSA website published by a local unit. A website must connect students, parents, teachers, and community members with its local unit. It is important to demonstrate a creative use of tools to build a website that fully represents the school and its local unit. The site must be well visited and show that the website is a valuable communication tool. (needs attachment tab for link )

General Criteria--website must: be free of empty folders or pages (no “under construction”) and bad or dead links (404 error, page not found); have up-to-date information, with regularly updated and regularly archived entries; be free of typos, incorrect grammar, and unreadable text; employ user-friendly navigation; feature an attractive home page; include links to social media.

• PTA Criteria--website must: feature the PTA/PTSA official name and school name on the homepage; include the National PTA logo; name the PTA/PTSA Executive Board members and their contact information; include the PTA/PTSA calendar of events; cite the PTA mission statement goals and objectives; include links to PTA websites (National PTA, Florida PTA, and MDCC PTA/PTSA).

• Content Criteria—website must feature PTA/PTSA school general content; message from PTA/PTSA president; current PTA/PTSA projects; report on PTA/PTSA membership; general national, state and council PTA information; instructions on how to submit articles or information.

Eugenia B. Thomas Communication Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the best PTA/PTSA communication method by local units who demonstrate a commitment to communicating with their local membership. To qualify, a local unit must submit two samples from the current school year by the deadline date. Attach or email to [email protected]

Champion of PTA Community Partner Award

This award recognizes a company, organization or association who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and support to the vision, mission, and the values of PTA at your school site.

Spirit of PTA President Award

This award will be presented to a local unit PTA/PTSA President who personifies outstanding leadership qualities, promotes advocacy on behalf of children and youth, and is committed to parent and community involvement.

PTA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

This award recognizes a PTA who educates PTA members on the meaning and benefits of diversity to include culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, disabilities, etc.; promotes an environment that recognizes and celebrates differences; enhances positive parent/teacher/student relationships across diverse communities through recognition, engagement, education, and empowerment; works to ensure that an environment of inclusion is prevalent.

Supermen of PTA Award

The purpose of the Supermen of the PTA Award is to recognize units who have 25 or more male members. Provide the number of Male members in your write up.

Grandparents Award

The purpose of the Grandparents of the PTA Award is to recognize units who have 25 or more grandparents as members. Provide the number of Grandparents members in your write up.