Seeking Categorical Award Nominations

South Dakota Association of Elementary Principals (SDAESP) is currently accepting nominations for this year’s categorical awards. This is a great opportunity to recognize outstanding elementary principals across South Dakota who are making a meaningful impact in their schools and communities.

Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:

• Community Leader

• Innovative Leader

• Instructional Leader

• Rookie of the Year

  
  

Award descriptions are included below.

Colleagues may be nominated by completing the 2025-26 SDAESP Categorical Awards Nomination. Nominees must be current elementary principals in South Dakota and active members of SDAESP.

All nominations must be submitted through the link above by March 1, 2026. Eligible principals who are nominated will receive an email from me with the award application to be completed by April 1, 2026.

If you have questions regarding the nomination process, please feel free to contact me at aaron.weaver@k12.sd.us.

SDAESP encourages you to consider nominating a colleague whose leadership and impact deserve recognition. Thank you for supporting and celebrating excellence in elementary leadership across our state.

Award Descriptions & Criteria: 

Community Leader: This current elementary principal is a “community builder” and actively involves their student body in community activities while also bringing the community into their building. Students, teachers, staff, and/or the greater school community see this principal as an integral piece in connecting the community and the school.

Innovative Leader: This current elementary principal is a “change agent” and is successfully implementing innovative programs or practices that have a direct impact on students, staff, and the greater school community. Examples of deserving innovations could include advocating for one’s school and for public education, implementing instructional technology, promoting staff wellness, modeling/promoting mentoring practices among staff and students, actively engaging families, or any other program or practice that is innovative and beneficial to the whole school.

Instructional Leader: This current elementary principal is a “teacher of teachers” and is positively impacting student achievement. Students, staff, and the greater school community may all have a supporting role in the success of this principal’s school.

Rookie of the Year: Must be in the first 3 years as an elementary principal. This principal demonstrates exceptional leadership in a new role that contributes to a positive school culture, articulates a vision to their school community and staff, innovates within their district, and actively participates in professional and community organizations.