​Purpose

The SHAPE Arkansas Principal of the Year award recognizes a school principal who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting physical education, health, and student wellness in Arkansas schools.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be a current principal at an Arkansas K-12 school.

• The nominee must show active support for quality physical education and school-wide wellness initiatives.

• The nominee must be recognized for innovative leadership in student and staff health programs.

Selection Process

1. Nomination Period:

   • Nominations are submitted via the official Nomination Form before the deadline.

2. Review & Scoring:

   • A selection committee of SHAPE Arkansas board members and education professionals reviews nominations.

   • Principals are scored based on:

     • Commitment to PE & Health (25 points)

     • Implementation of Programs (25 points)

     • Impact on Students & Staff (25 points)

     • Leadership & Advocacy (25 points)
       (100 points total)

3. Finalist Selection:

   • The top 3-5 principals with the highest scores advance as finalists.

   • Finalists are notified and asked to participate in an interview with the selection committee.

4. Site Visits (Optional):

   • The committee may conduct virtual or in-person school visits to observe wellness programs in action.

5. Public Engagement & Voting (Optional):

   • SHAPE Arkansas may feature finalists on social media for community input and engagement.

   • Community support does not determine the winner but may serve as a tiebreaker in close decisions.

6. Winner Selection & Announcement:

   • The committee makes the final decision based on all scoring criteria.

   • The winner is announced at the SHAPE Arkansas Annual Conference and recognized in SHAPE Arkansas publications and media.

Award & Recognition

• Official Award: A trophy or plaque is presented at the conference.

• Public Recognition: The winner is featured on the SHAPE Arkansas website, social media, and state education news.

• Professional Development Opportunity: The winner may be invited to share best practices at SHAPE Arkansas events or conferences.

• Nomination for National Recognition (Optional): The winner may be considered for a regional or national SHAPE America award.