5. The educational services professional recognition selection panel may nominate to the local board of education one educational services professional from each school in the district having 10 or more educational services professionals who, because of their knowledge, commitment, and creativity, have made an extraordinary contribution during the previous school year to the quality of education in that district. Schools having fewer than 10 educational services professionals may consolidate with other schools for the purpose of participating in this program, provided that the combined number of educational services professionals is 10 or more. In selecting educational services professionals for the Governor’s Annual Award for Outstanding Educational Services Professionals, the panel may solicit nominations from teaching staff, administrative staff, parents, students, and community members.

Educational services professionals who are selected for the Governor’s Annual Educational Services Professionals Recognition Award shall have distinguished themselves through exceptional contributions in the following areas:

a. interactions with students, staff, and parents while functioning as a frontline advocate for the student between home and school;

b. fostering an environment for learning and exploring creative alternatives to enable all students to achieve to their fullest potential;

c. supporting classroom instruction by addressing the educational, social, and emotional needs of all students; and

d. personal interactions with students that demonstrate professionalism while retaining respect, humor, compassion, and concern for the whole child.

The selection panel shall consider evidence of these contributions in making its decisions. Educational services professionals selected for this award shall have received exemplary local district evaluation reports. School districts may also consider other evidence of outstanding educational services performance.

Educational services professionals selected for the Governor’s Award shall also have other acceptable personnel records which are devoid of recent sanctions or deficiencies.

The local board of education may certify to the commissioner the name of one educational services professional from each school or combination of schools in the district having 10 or more educational services professionals as a recipient of the Governor’s Award. The local board may not certify the names of any educational services professionals who were not nominated by the educational services professionals selection panel. Districts that do not comply with all the provisions of this act shall not be included in the Governor’s Award program.

Award recipients shall not be eligible for renomination for two years following their selection.

L.2003,c.216,s.5.