Excellence Awards Categories & Criteria

Nomination Categories & Criteria

The Excellence Awards criteria align with the shared system priorities of the TDSB community. The nomination categories reflect our focus on ensuring all students can achieve, belong, and thrive in revitalized learning environments – all underscored by our foundational commitment to equity and to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

Review the nomination categories below and learn more about the criteria for each:

Student Achievement and Engagement

The Student Achievement and Engagement Award will recognize an individual or group that demonstrates excellence by going above and beyond through specific impactful academic activities, programs, or initiatives. The Award will recognize those supporting high achievement and engagement for under-served students and helping to eliminate disproportionate outcomes. Award nominations must highlight how the individual or group demonstrated innovation and created positive student learning experiences.

Award Criteria

Uses universal design, as well as culturally relevant and responsive instructional practices and pedagogy that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of TDSB students
Implements learning innovation that supports high achievement and/or engagement centered in belonging and thriving
Increasing equity of access to programs, extracurricular opportunities and other enrichment opportunities
Champions high expectations for student achievement and provides the support students need to reach their full potential

Enhancing Belonging and Wellbeing

The Enhancing Belonging and Well-being Award will recognize an individual or group that demonstrates excellence and goes above and beyond to create outstanding collaborative environments that advance inclusion and enhance access to participation in culturally responsive ways. Nominations should highlight how the individual or group creates spaces for others to feel safe to contribute to discussions and/or initiatives and how they enhance well-being by acknowledging uniqueness, removing barriers and oppressive structures, and supporting mental health initiatives and practices.

Award Criteria

Enhances belonging and well-being by challenging inequities, barriers, and biases so that others feel safe to share thoughts and feelings
Expanding platforms for student voice and leadership, helping them to shape their educational experiences and contribute meaningfully to the school community
Creates welcoming and inclusive learning environments that reflect the diverse backgrounds, identities, and needs of students and/or staff
Employs restorative practices to foster empathy and ensure that well-being is always centered within our system commitments to anti-oppression to benefit all
Demonstrates a strong commitment to collaboration, valuing and celebrating diversity, promoting the holistic development and well-being of TDSB students

Combatting Hate and Racism

The Combatting Hate and Racism Award will recognize an individual or group that demonstrated excellence and has gone above and beyond to challenge hate and racism at the TDSB.

Award Criteria

Proactively and consistently takes action to create the conditions in classrooms, and in work environments, where all identities are affirmed and respected, and the human rights of all (i.e., students, staff, parents/caregivers/guardians, and community members) are centered
Expanding platforms for student voice and leadership, helping them to shape their educational experiences and contribute meaningfully to the school community
Shows leadership in confronting anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, homophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and/or other forms of discrimination
Takes steps to eliminate incidents of bullying, harassment, or discrimination against any employee, student, or community member based on their identity

Driving Innovation

The Driving Innovation Award recognizes an individual or group that has championed outstanding innovation. They have demonstrated leadership in innovation by implementing an innovative project, practice, digital solution or tool that positively enhances student achievement, staff experiences, and/or service delivery.

Award Criteria

Exhibits an innovative vision and leads implementation for the use of an innovative project, practice, program, digital solution or tool that improves student achievement, staff experiences, or service delivery
Encourages thoughtful risk-taking and creative ideas to create a culture of collaboratively solving complex problems
Implements an innovation that addresses a complex issue or meets the needs of an under-served group
Makes a positive and lasting impact through innovation

Delivering Operational Excellence

The Delivering Operational Excellence award recognizes an individual or group that has gone above and beyond to provide service delivery to staff, community, or students that exceeds client expectations and demonstrates business and/or operational excellence.

Award Criteria

Demonstrates strong leadership and a best practices approach in delivering services to students, staff, or community
Demonstrates an 'above and beyond' approach to resolving issues and exceeding client expectations
Minimizes barriers to service delivery to meet specific client needs, particularly for an underserved or marginalized group
Applies a continuous improvement mindset to service delivery that results in specific service improvements that enhance the client experience
Leads the revitalization of working environments that are innovative, safe, inclusive, and modern