Criteria and Rules

For the purposes of the Chester County Champions of Education Awards, a "public school" is defined as any school operated by the 12 Chester County school districts or Chester County Intermediate Unit that:

1. Operates under the jurisdiction of a Chester County public school district as listed in these guidelines.

2. Is funded through public sources.

3. Employs instructional staff who are required to hold valid certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

4. Operates in compliance with all applicable policies, rules, and regulations outlined in the Pennsylvania School Code.

5. Is governed by an elected Board of School Directors accountable to the residents of the school district.

Nominations are welcomed from colleagues, supervisors, students, families, and community members who want to recognize an outstanding educator or staff member.

Every nomination is carefully reviewed and scored against a set of criteria that reflect impact, dedication, relationships, and leadership. A selection committee evaluates each nomination and chooses the honorees for each award category.

• October 2026 — District nomination windows open

• Late November 2026 — Nomination windows close

• December 2026 — Committee score nominations 

• December 2026 — Final honorees submitted countywide

• January–February 2027 — Honoree video features filmed; event materials finalized

• March 2027 — Honorees celebrated at the countywide awards dinner

All nominations are due Nov. 30, 2026