Exemplary Governance Awards
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Individual school board members attain Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status by earning points for attending ISBA and ISBA-approved conferences, events, seminars, and workshops.
COMMENDABLE: 75 POINTS
This level one award recognizes a member’s commendable efforts by demonstrating a desire for advancing the principles of good governance. This individual has worked to attain the 1st level towards exemplary governance by earning 75 EGA points through participation in training, seminars, and/or conferences.
ADVANCED: 125 POINTS
The second level award reflects a commitment to excellence for those board members who have demonstrated their passion for service and leadership by advancing their professional development education through training opportunities that boosts their total EGA points accumulated to 125.
DISTINGUISHED: 175 POINTS
This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a board member, dedicated to board governance at a distinguished level. Board members earning this level demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and effective board governance. This level is attained by a member earning a total of 175 EGA points.
EXEMPLARY: 225 POINTS
This is the highest level an individual board member can earn. Board members at this level have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their own professional development in leadership and board governance through their continuous engagement in ISBA’s professional development programs. Exemplary governance status requires earning 225 EGA points.
* The points required to advance to each level must include points earned by attending a minimum of one core ISBA event.
BOARD AWARDS
The entire board can qualify based on the collective Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status of its individual members and completing certain criteria as a unit.
COMMENDABLE
Commendable board recognition requires that a majority of a board’s members have attained EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings.
ADVANCED
Advanced board recognition requires that all board members be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings. Additionally, the board must complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA before December 31st of each year.
DISTINGUISHED
Distinguished boards must be second year Advanced Boards. Each member must earn a minimum of 25 additional EGA points per year including points earned by attending one or more Core electives. The board must also show evidence of a board retreat with an outside facilitator (agenda and name of facilitator; minimum of 4 hours) and complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA.
EXEMPLARY
Exemplary is the highest award level conferred by ISBA. This distinction is reserved for boards that demonstrate an unfailing commitment to leadership, effective governance, student achievement, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and policy review. Specifically, the Exemplary distinction requires each board member to be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Additionally, the board must submit an annual performance portfolio by December 31 documenting all of the following:
• Completion of a board self-assessment with ISBA
• Completion of annual board retreat
• Completion of annual review of corporation goals
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to student achievement
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to continuing education and professional development
• Evidence of an annual superintendent evaluation
• Adoption of a board compact and/or code of ethics
Further details on the criteria for attaining the Exemplary school board award are available here.
Individual school board members attain Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status by earning points for attending ISBA and ISBA-approved conferences, events, seminars, and workshops.
COMMENDABLE: 75 POINTS
This level one award recognizes a member’s commendable efforts by demonstrating a desire for advancing the principles of good governance. This individual has worked to attain the 1st level towards exemplary governance by earning 75 EGA points through participation in training, seminars, and/or conferences.
ADVANCED: 125 POINTS
The second level award reflects a commitment to excellence for those board members who have demonstrated their passion for service and leadership by advancing their professional development education through training opportunities that boosts their total EGA points accumulated to 125.
DISTINGUISHED: 175 POINTS
This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a board member, dedicated to board governance at a distinguished level. Board members earning this level demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and effective board governance. This level is attained by a member earning a total of 175 EGA points.
EXEMPLARY: 225 POINTS
This is the highest level an individual board member can earn. Board members at this level have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their own professional development in leadership and board governance through their continuous engagement in ISBA’s professional development programs. Exemplary governance status requires earning 225 EGA points.
* The points required to advance to each level must include points earned by attending a minimum of one core ISBA event.
BOARD AWARDS
The entire board can qualify based on the collective Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status of its individual members and completing certain criteria as a unit.
COMMENDABLE
Commendable board recognition requires that a majority of a board’s members have attained EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings.
ADVANCED
Advanced board recognition requires that all board members be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings. Additionally, the board must complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA before December 31st of each year.
DISTINGUISHED
Distinguished boards must be second year Advanced Boards. Each member must earn a minimum of 25 additional EGA points per year including points earned by attending one or more Core electives. The board must also show evidence of a board retreat with an outside facilitator (agenda and name of facilitator; minimum of 4 hours) and complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA.
EXEMPLARY
Exemplary is the highest award level conferred by ISBA. This distinction is reserved for boards that demonstrate an unfailing commitment to leadership, effective governance, student achievement, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and policy review. Specifically, the Exemplary distinction requires each board member to be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Additionally, the board must submit an annual performance portfolio by December 31 documenting all of the following:
• Completion of a board self-assessment with ISBA
• Completion of annual board retreat
• Completion of annual review of corporation goals
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to student achievement
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to continuing education and professional development
• Evidence of an annual superintendent evaluation
• Adoption of a board compact and/or code of ethics
Further details on the criteria for attaining the Exemplary school board award are available here.
