SAANYS Annual Awards Program

SAANYS is proud to honor many exceptional New York State administrators with an Annual Awards Program. This program was established to recognize educators who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and have made exceptional contributions to the educational process. Each year SAANYS recognizes nominees with an award and banquet held in their honor. Below is a list of the awards given each year and the criteria for each. For additional information on the SAANYS Awards Program or to request nomination forms contact Harriet Ostrander at:

Distinguished Elementary Principal Award
Winner Becomes the SAANYS Candidate for the NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) Award

Awarded to a member who has been an elementary principal (grades pre-k -8) for at least five years in which time has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in his/her school. Nominees are administrators who are committed to parents and the community and have shown exceptional contributions to the educational process. For an awards packet, visit NAESP

Distinguished Secondary Principal Award
Winner Becomes the SAANYS Candidate for the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) Award

This award is selected as part of the NASSP process to select a principal of the year (grades 6-12). The criteria for this award are very similar to the Elementary Principal Award. For an awards packet, visit NASSP

Distinguished Assistant Principal of the year
Winner Becomes the SAANYS Candidate for the NASSP Award

This award is given to a member who has been an assistant principal for at least three years. Candidates are administrators who anticipate and resolve problems effectively, actively implement the goals and objectives of his/her school, and work to improve education programs and student achievement. For an awards packet, visit NASSP

Distinguished Middle School Principal Award
Winner becomes the candidate for the NAESP or NASSP Award.

This award is given annually to the middle school principal who has distinguished herself/himself at the middle school level and has been a principal for at least five years. The nominee sets the pace, character and quality of education for the children in the school, is committed to excellence, and has made a commitment to parents and community.

James E. Allen Award
Awarded to a member who is a secondary administrator, supervisor, or coordinator who has given outstanding service and leadership to the cause of secondary education and to the association.

T. Walsh McQuillan Award
This award is given to a member who is an elementary administrator, supervisor, or coordinator who has made significant contributions to elementary education and to the association.

Outstanding Educator Award
This award is given to a SAANYS administrator, supervisor, or coordinator who has shown outstanding leadership and service to education through significant contributions to curriculum development as well as noteworthy writing and or research in the field of education.

Irving Schwartz Distinguished Retiree Award
This award is given annually to a retired member who, in retirement, has made significant contributions to the welfare of the association, education, and the greater community.

Leadership and Support Award
This award was established to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of those members whose responsibilities require leadership through support services to fellow administrators across and between districts. Such administrators may be employed by BOCES or in other cooperative efforts.