Awards of Excellence 2021

Each year, the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence honors winners in six categories (see detailed descriptions below):

Congratulations to our 2021 Award Winners!

Winners were announced at the School’s Out, Make it
Count Conference on October 23rd, 2021.

Awards of Excellence Descriptions

MELANIE McCLINTOCK LEADERSHIP AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights leadership excellence by an out-of-school time program or site leader, director, supervisor or coordinator. The winner of this award:

• has seven or more years’ experience in administering out-of-school time programs OR education and non-profit administrators that advocate on behalf of their out-of-school time programs
• understands the critical value of quality out-of-school time programs in the developmental needs of youth
• has made significant contributions to the out-of-school time field. This could entail being actively engaged with a youth development organization, provide training in the out-of-school time field, or advocate for the out-of-school time movement and profession

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROFESSIONAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights professional excellence by a staff member in out-of-school time profession. The winner of this award:

• has worked directly with children for at least two years of their career
• currently works a minimum of ten hours a week in a public, private, faith-based, school-based, neighborhood located, or military based out-of-school time program
• work reflects inclusive understanding of the developmental needs of children, youth and families, continued professional development, and the highest standards outlined by the Arizona Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights an organization, department, program or individual program site’s excellence. The winner of this award:

• has operated for at least two years
• can be public, private, faith-based, school based, neighborhood located, community based, or military based
• meets the highest standards of quality in the field
• demonstrates capacity to meet the needs of children, youth and families in their community

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME NEW STAFF MEMBER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights a staff member new to the out-of-school time profession. The winner of this award:

• has worked in an out-of-school time program for no more than two years
• currently works in a public, private, faith-based, school-based, neighborhood located, or military based out-of-school time program

INNOVATIVE PRACTICES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights an innovative out-of-school time program. The winner of this award:

• is implementing cutting edge programming to encourage deeper learning and to challenge young people to act as scientists, inventors, collaborators and problem-solvers
• has innovative curriculum that has been in place for at least one year
• meets the highest standards of quality in the field

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This award spotlights an organization or department’s commitment to to quality out-of-school time programming using the Arizona Quality Standards Assessment Tool (AzQSAT).

• have signed or renewed their commitment with the Make It Count Pledge within the last 12 months
• have at least a majority, if not all, of their programs registered on the AzQSAT tool
• have a majority, if not all, of their registered programs active within the last 12 months on the AzQSAT

Awards of Excellence Rules & Requirements

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RULES & REQUIREMENTS

The nomination application and any additional materials must be submitted online at azafterschool.org. Judging will occur in two rounds. The first round will produce finalists for each award. All award finalists will be selected by an independent panel of judges. Once finalists have been selected additional letters of support from colleagues, parents and students, copies of relevant supporting documents, including: pictures, articles or other commendations, or recognition your program will be collected for the second round of judging.  Finalists and their nominators will be notified by email. The winner and honorees will be announced and awards presented at the Arizona Statewide Out-of-School Time Conference, October 17, 2020.  All finalists are to attend the annual conference.  By submitting a nomination or supporting document (such as a letter of support), participating individuals grant the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence permission to use the any of the submitted materials, not protected by copyright, in advertisements and/or promotions without compensation or notification. Such advertisements or promotions may include internet/social media announcements of the Awards of Excellence or the conference, as well as print materials distributed at or in promotion of the events. Nomination deadline is April 20, 2020.