Norwalk Board Of Education, Public Schools Earn CABE Board Of Distinction Award

Information via Norwalk Public Schools

NORWALK, CT — The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education recently named Norwalk Public Schools and the city's Board of Education as recipients of the 2024 CABE Board of Distinction Award.

CABE also honored the district's communications department with the Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications.

According to a news release provided by the school district, the CABE Board Recognitions Award program was created in 1998 and awards boards of education and superintendents "which exhibit the most effective leadership and are characterized by their ability to work together as teams. The CABE Board Recognition Awards are designed to recognize Boards which work effectively in this manner."

The Board of Distinction Award is the highest honor that CABE presents to state boards. The Norwalk BOE was recognized at the 2024 CABE/CAPPS Convention on Nov. 15.

NPS Chief Financial Officer Lunda Asmani accepted the award on behalf of the district.

CABE also awarded NPS Communications with the Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications in eight categories and 11 total awards:

• Annual Report: NPS State of the Schools 2023
• Computer Generated Project: 21 Strong; Hola Familia
• Course Selection Guide: Norwalk Public Schools School Choice Catalog
• District Budget: Budget in Brief
• Social Media: Women’s History Month Campaign; Why I Teach Campaign; Long-Tenured Teacher Celebrations
• Special Project: First Book 2024 Campaign
• Special Project (AV): Inside NPS
• Websites: NPS Family Center Website

CABE has been honoring school districts with the Award of Excellence for Educational Communications since 1975.

In 2016, the award was renamed in honor of longtime CABE staff member Bonnie Carney in recognition of her 47 years of dedication to education, focused on communications.

With this award, CABE's goal is to identify and honor the hard working people in school districts for their continuing effort to communicate effectively, according to Norwalk Public Schools.

Starting in August 2022, this team incorporated a new dynamic, storytelling approach to all district content, according to the district.

district events such as First Book, the Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Black Heritage and History Festival.

The team has also focused on individualized content, putting district students, teachers and staff in the spotlight. In May 2024, the new educator spotlight "Why I Teach" campaign was launched, a video series featuring NPS students who choose the teachers they most want to ask "Why Do You Teach?" and other questions about their profession as proud educators.

The campaign will expand this winter with "It Takes a Village" that will highlight support staff in schools and central office staff, according to the district.

NPS Communications was also honored for its work this year by the National School Public Relations Association, collecting nine Publications & Digital Media Awards, including five Awards of Excellence.