Awards for Excellence

2025-26 Awards For Excellence

In Mapleton Public Schools, excellence is both our goal and our standard. From the choices we make to the relationships we build and the values we uphold, our shared commitment to excellence is guided by our mission to ensure every student achieves their dreams.

To honor and celebrate the excellence that defines our work, we are reimagining our Awards for Excellence event with a renewed focus on Mapleton’s Standards of Excellence. Introduced last year, these standards reflect the shared values that guide how we lead, learn, and serve. Our five core values—High Expectations, Authenticity, Belonging, Integrity, and Equity—represent the heart of who we are and who we aspire to be.

Awards for Excellence Nominations

Based on employee feedback, the Awards for Excellence process, including the award categories, nomination process, and judging format, has been modified to make it clearer, more inclusive, and more transparent.

This year, nominations will be accepted in three categories:

• Classified Employees
• Licensed Employees
• Administrators

To make participation easier, the nomination window will open Monday, Jan. 12, shifting the timeline away from the busy spring season. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 30.

We’re also excited to share that this year’s judging panel will include students, bringing new perspectives to the selection process.

In past years, all Awards for Excellence nominees received a complimentary ticket for themselves and a guest to attend the dinner and celebration. As we continue to elevate and refine the Awards for Excellence experience, we will be moving away from that tradition.

This year, nominations will be reviewed and scored by last year’s Award for Excellence recipients and members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory group. Based on those scores, the top ten nominees in each category will receive complimentary dinner tickets for themselves and a guest as a way to recognize and honor their outstanding contributions.

All nominees are encouraged to attend and celebrate the evening together. The ticket price will remain $25 per person, and we hope everyone will join us in honoring excellence across Mapleton.

Nomination Essay

The honor of nominating a colleague is almost as meaningful as being nominated. It’s your chance to celebrate and uplift the people whose everyday actions make Mapleton extraordinary.

As we elevate our Awards for Excellence to align with Mapleton’s Standards of Excellence, we’ve simplified this year’s nomination essay to one powerful question:

“How does this person exemplify one or more of Mapleton’s Standards of Excellence?”

We invite you to share a story that captures your nominee’s impact — a moment, habit, or action that reflects one or more of our shared values: High Expectations, Authenticity, Belonging, Integrity, and Equity.

Be as specific as possible and detail the difference your colleague makes every day.

Nominations must be between 500-600 words.