NSBA 2024 Magna Awards
Press Release
Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Earns National Honor in 2024 Magna Awards Program for Innovation-2nd Year in a Row
Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District #6, Cottonwood, AZ (March 10, 2024): We are happy to announce that Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District is a National School Boards Association (NSBA) 2024 Magna Award winner. Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District was recognized for its commitment to innovation as a winner in the 29th annual awards program. Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District is one of 18 winners — three Grand Prize winners and 15 Silver Award winners — across the nation receiving this honor.
Members of the NSBA Board of Directors Awards Committee selected the winners from district submissions.
The district was recognized for its work on the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Framework which is comprised of four essential components: 1) screening, 2) progress monitoring, 3) multi-level prevention system and 4) data-based decision making. However, the administration and school board took the framework a step further based on information from research associated with the Icelandic Model of Prevention. They have grown it into a model for supports designed to address chronic absenteeism, discipline issues, and reoccurring behaviors by providing over ninety-two interest-based afterschool clubs and activities for students to keep them engaged in school.
“The Magna Awards spotlight innovative programs that are making a difference for students and the communities where they live,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “These award winners serve as shining examples of what can be achieved when creativity and dedication intersect in the pursuit of excellence."
“The district has made significant advancements in school ratings, achieving the milestone of one A- rated school and three B rated schools”, stated board president Mary Valenzuela.
Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and the other winners were highlighted in the April issue of ASBJ. Read more about it here:
https://nsba.org/ASBJ/2024/april/2024-magna-awards-silver-award-winners
Sponsored by NSBA’s flagship magazine, American School Board Journal, the Magna Awards has a long history of recognizing exemplary school district programs.
The 2024 awards program recognizes district programs that solved a challenge with creativity and out- of-the-box strategies.