The Raleigh Dingman Award is the highest honor bestowed on a North Carolina school board member each year and is named in honor of Raleigh Dingman, NCSBA’s first full-time executive secretary. Since 2003, recipients of this honor have served as an ex-officio member of the NC State Board of Education and the NCSBA Board of Directors. The honoree will be expected to attend meetings of both organizations.
Please read the Raleigh Dingman Award criteria, eligibility requirements, and nomination specifications outlined below before submitting your application. All instructions must be followed, or the entry may be disqualified.
Click here to download forms. Word format PDF Format
Criteria for Consideration
Nominees for the Raleigh Dingman Award should be individual school board members that have demonstrated leadership at the local, state, or federal level as evidenced by any or all of the following:
- significant contribution to developing community support for the critical role of public education
- improving student achievement
- strengthening professional development to support public education, school board member training and development, the role of school boards, and school leadership
- engaging the public, parents, and community in school improvement
- aiding, fostering, and promoting the development of the role of public schools and public education in preserving and promoting democracy;
- individual or group activities to support quality public education at the local, state, and federal level and the work of local school boards;
- leadership and service to school boards, public education, and/or the North Carolina School Boards Association as demonstrated by committee work, attendance at NCSBA seminars, regional meetings, or whole-board training
Eligibility Requirements
- Nomination endorsed by School Board Chair
- Complied with statutory training requirements for school boards
- Complied with 2-hour ethics training requirements for school boards
- Participated in NCSBA Board Development activities
- Served at least one full term on the local board
- Be a current board member
- Willing to serve as an ex-officio member of the NC State Board of Education and the NCSBA Board of Directors by regularly attending meetings of both boards
Nomination Specifications
Entries must meet all specifications in order to qualify.
- Nomination form including a summary of the nominee’s qualifications for the Raleigh Dingman Award not to exceed 200 words
- One-page detailed narrative addressing the nominee’s essential attributes and leadership skills that qualify for this award, typed and double-spaced
- Board endorsement form
- Evidence of statutory training
- Evidence of 2-hour ethics training
- Digital photo of nominee sent as .png or .jpeg file, 300 dpi minimum
- Letters of support (optional, no more than 3)
- Supporting materials, such as news articles, promotional handouts, etc. (optional)
Optional Backup Materials
The judges will make decisions based on responses to the prompt on the entry form and the one-page narrative. Backup materials to support the nomination are welcome.
Submission Deadline
All items listed under the Nomination Specifications must be received by NCSBA on or before September 30, 2022.
Submission Process
- Download the application forms and information: Word format PDF format
- Complete form, narrative, and gather remaining information. Convert any items into a digital format for uploading. (Documents should be .doc, .docx, or .pdf files.)
- Submit form materials using the online form; mailed or faxed forms cannot be accepted.
You will NOT be able to save your work within this form. It is recommended that you gather all the necessary documents first.
All items listed under the nomination specifications must be received by NCSBA on or before September 30, 2022
Click here to download forms. Word Format PDF Format
This form is currently closed for submissions.