Awards & Nominations

Star Rising Leader

The Star Rising Leader award recognizes educators who are on the path to building leadership. These exceptional individuals already perform leadership duties and demonstrate a commitment to serving in a leadership role in their career.

• Required to have five years of experience in public education, with three years of experience within public education at a KC based public charter school or within a KCPS School.
• Building principals are not eligible. 
• Required to serve within a school building – cannot be a leader or administrator at a district level.
• Required to already have or be currently enrolled in a master’s program for school leadership / administration or have another relevant leadership qualification that demonstrates a commitment to a career in building leadership.
• Is already performing leadership duties within the school (eg: dept chair, curriculum chair, assistant principal)
• Two awards are recognized in this category, with one award recognizing an educator at a KCPS school and one award recognizing an educator at a public charter school.

Star Support

The award for Star Support recognizes those who serve in support roles within school buildings. This category will award in two subcategories:

Classified Staff

• Required to have five years of experience working within a public school, with three years of experience within public education at a KC based public charter school or within a KCPS school.
• Required to serve within a school building – district level employees are not eligible.
• Serves in a classified role, for example: custodian, school office / front desk staff, etc. regardless of professional credentials.
• Four awards are given in this category, with two awards recognizing educators at KCPS schools and two awards recognizing educators at public charter schools.

Certified Staff

• Required to have five years of experience working within a public school, with three years of experience within public education at a KC based public charter school or within a KCPS school.
• Required to serve within a school building – cannot be a district level employee.
• Required to serve in a position that requires a professional certification and / or licensure: for example: school nurse, library, Counselor, etc.
• Two awards are given in this category, with one award recognizing an educator at a KCPS school and one award recognizing an educator at a public charter school.

Star Teacher

The Star Teacher award is our signature award that recognizes those educators who lead classrooms in our public schools. A total of seven star teacher awards will be awarded, honoring the following four categories:

Pre-K Teacher

• Must have five years of experience in public education or Pre-K, with one year experience within public education at KC Pre-K Cooperative Site.
• Required to be continuing in a Pre-K role for the 2026/27 school year.
• Required to work in a Pre-K site that is a member of the SchoolSmart KC Pre-K Cooperative
• One award is recognized in this category, with a winner selected from all applicants.

Early Career

• Required to be working as a classroom teacher in a KC based public charter school or within a KCPS school.
• Can serve in any grade or subject. 
• Has less than five years of service in education.
• Required to be a certified teacher or be a subject matter expert in a DESE approved subject role.
• Two awards are recognized in this category, with one winner selected from a public charter school and one winner selected from a KCPS school.

Grade K-6 Teacher

• Required to have five years of experience working within a public school, with at least three years of experience within public education at a KC based public charter school or within the KCPS district.
• Required to be a certified classroom teacher in grades K-6.
• Can be in any subject area (including non-core, non-tested)
• Required to be a certified teacher or be a subject matter expert in a DESE approved subject role.
• Two awards are recognized in this category, with one winner selected from a public charter school and one winner selected from a KCPS school.

Grade 7-12 Teacher

• Required to have five years of experience working within a public school, with three years of experience within public education at a KC based public charter school or within the KCPS district.
• Required to be a certified classroom teacher in grades 7-12.
• Can be in any subject area (including non-core, non-tested)
• Required to be a certified teacher or be a subject matter expert in a DESE approved subject role.
• Two awards are recognized  in this category, with one winner selected from a public charter school and one winner selected from a KCPS school.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors educators who have devoted many years to public education and whose work has made a clear difference for students. This award is only recognized when a nominee meets the full criteria and also shows a record of practice that goes beyond showing up every day. It recognizes someone who taught with consistency, skill, and care, and who shaped student learning in ways that lasted.

• Eligible nominees must work in a school-based, non-principal role. District-level staff are not eligible.
• Required criteria:
  • At least 25 years of experience in public education. Preference is given to those with long service in public charter schools and Kansas City Public Schools.
  • Experience may be non-consecutive and include different roles.
  • A career that shows real impact on students and schools. This can include clear gains in student learning, steady growth in classroom practice, strong mentorship of colleagues, or long-term contributions to the school community.
• If awarded, only one individual is selected in this category.

Team Grants

Team grants recognizes teams that have worked collaboratively to create strong outcomes for their students and their school building. Designed to invest in successful programs, these grants will be awarded to school-based teams that provide a clear proposal for how funding will be used to continue the demonstrated success of their work.

• Teams are required to be designated to a specific project or program (for example: a student pantry).
• Teams are required to demonstrate the success and outcomes of their program to date.
• Teams are required to complete a written application of how the award money will be used and how it will impact students at their school.
• Team grants will be awarded at the school location, not as part of the individual award ceremony.
• Team grant applications are required to be submitted by the building leader on behalf of the team.