Awards to be presented at the Massachusetts PTA Annual Meeting  on April 5, 2025

Leadership Awards –

Application online is required

Applications are due by Friday, February 28, 2025.

The Barbara Bailey Membership Award

Barbara Bailey was president of Massachusetts PTA in the early 1990’s.  During her term (and beyond!), she was able to help units manage memberships, bylaws, and conflicts.  To recognize her continued dedication to units across the state, we are honored to name this award after her.  Describe a successful membership drive that your unit completed during the past year.

The Carol Woodbury Leadership Award

Carol Woodbury was the president of the Massachusetts PTA from 1999-2002.  During her term, she inspired units across the state to work together and form positive relationships with school administrations and the community.  Carol continues to work on behalf of students, parents and teachers in Massachusetts where she works as a superintendent. Write a brief description of an inspiring leader in your local unit.  Tell us what makes that person inspiring and how it made a difference in your school/community.

The Jacqueline M. Coogan Hero for Health Award

Jackie Coogan served on the MA PTA Board of Directors from 2012-2024 as the Chair of the Health Safety and Wellness Committee. While she was Chair she created a whole new approach to the PTA mission, incorporating the health needs of our children, families and communities in everything we do here in Massachusetts. She inspired local leaders and MA PTA partners across the state to work together to inform, educate and create programs focusing on all aspects of health.  Jackie continues to support the mission of PTA as a member of the MA PTA Health Safety and Wellness Committee, the National PTA Endowment Committee and as the founder of the Joint Committee for Children’s Healthcare in Everett. Candidates for this award are:

• PTA Unit(s) Person and /or persons who have established a working and successful HSW committee or initiative, within the Unit and School, which is accomplishing and implementing Goals, Objectives and Outcomes.
• That this be given to a MA PTA Unit Person, Health Committee and/or Initiative, Program that has successfully accomplished and brought to children and families who have met the MA PTA HSW Mission as well as their own established goals and accomplishments
• That whole school or system and/ or community could be awarded this Award as long as it was generated and involves PTA units and leader/members working for their HSW Mission.
• That the PTA person, committee and or Unit accomplishments have been such that “ they have created a project, program and or informational materials and contacts readily available for all children and families to be safe and live in an environment that promotes Health, Well-being, Confidence, Equity and Security free of all harm, dangers, and ill-treatment including racist, unjust and biased attitudes and behaviors

 Spirit of PTA Award

This award recognizes volunteers who promote and encourage the essence of PTA in their communities…every Child. one Voice.  Write a short essay describing someone you feel portrays the true essence of PTA. Members must be registered to accept the award. This award is open to a variety of leadership roles that your unit feels a member is deserving of recognition: newsletter, event planning, public relations, fundraising, etc. Your local dues can cover any convention expenses, as well.

The Outstanding Local Unit PTA Advocacy of the Year Award

This award is given to a student, PTA member and Local Unit on the Local Unit level who has made significant contributions through Leadership/Service. In a short essay, describe how this person or unit exemplifies and stands out aThe Outstanding Local Unit PTA Advocacy of the Year Award Awarded annually to one local unit PTA that through their dedication, leadership and efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with Massachusetts’s PTA’s public policy agenda. The unit must be in good standing with Massachusetts’s PTA at the time of the nomination.

The Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award

The Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award Awarded annually to one individual who most exemplifies the qualities of a great child advocate leader, a true advocate for all children and a model of public service and volunteerism who has positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy. The individual must be dedicated to moving the mission and goals of PTA forward and be a PTA member in good standing at the time of nomination.

The Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award

The Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award Awarded annually to a young person (defined as someone under 18, or still in high school at the time of nomination) who exemplifies the qualities of creativity, leadership, and dedication, and has positively affected policy or change in his or her school or community in a way that aligns with PTA’s mission and goals. The individual youth must be a member of a PTA at the time of nomination. Among others, how they adopted and carried out the mission of the PTA and volunteered their time to bring this to fruition.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school teacher who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Vice Principal of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school vice principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Principal of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year Award

This award is to recognize a school district superintendent who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Counselor of the Year Award

This award is to recognize a  school counselor who is supportive, helpful, and embodies the mission of PTA.

Unsung Hero Award

This Unsung Hero has gone above and beyond the call of duty. This is a special person who has done extra special things for those in need.  This special person has done good work without receiving or expecting praise and recognition. In a short essay, describe how this person exemplifies and stands out among others, how they adopted and carried out the mission of the PTA. This person could be: ESP’s (Educational Support Professional), School Nurses, Crossing Guards, Guardians, Grandparents, Cafeteria Personal, Bus Drivers, School Bus Monitors, Custodian/Maintenance Personal, Lunch/Recess Monitors, etc.

Spotlight on Male Engagement Award

This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. In a short essay, describe how your PTA has utilized or involved fathers in your school or community.  Attach fliers/news articles/screenshots that are related.

Newsletter/ Communications (Examples of Publication Required)

Do you have a great way of keeping your PTA community informed? Whether it is newsletters that are sent home in a backpack, emails or a website that helps members keep up-to-date with your PTA happenings, show us how you communicate. Submit an example of your communication.

Community Membership Award

In order to bring into closer relations the school and community, i.e., places of worship, businesses, community leaders, etc., this award will be given to those PTAs that recruit twenty-five members from the community in addition to parents who also serve in community leadership positions.

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.

General Membership Awards – No application needed:

• Golden Apple Award – Units with 100% membership of full-time certified teachers.
• Challenge Award – Units with 5% membership increase over the previous year’s membership total.
• Making a Difference Award – Units with at least a 15% member increase over the previous year’s membership total.
• Goal Buster Submission – Awarded to any local unit that has recruited 2 or more new businesses as “Business for PTA” partners or the unit with the largest number of business partners during the current year, will be placed in drawing for a $50 gift card.