Awards & Honors - Des Moines Public Schools

Honored for Excellence in Education

Des Moines Public Schools is proud to be home to thousands of educators and other professionals who work hard each and every day to help the students of our community succeed.

The good work performed by our teachers and staff has earned awards, honors and recognition at the state and national level.

Highlights of some recent honors include:

	12-Time Energy Star Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence
	2021 Special Olympics National Unified Champion School
	PBS Digital Innovator 2017: Cathi Miller, Central Academy 2016: Joe McCright, Stowe Elementary School
	2021-23: ISPRA President Leadership Recognition ISPRA Blue and Gold Winner (Mulitple Years) 2016 ISPRA Communicator of the Year Iowa School Public Relations Assocation
	2016 AP Teacher of the Year
	2015 Magna Award National School Board Association
	2015 Iowa Teacher of the Year – Clemencia Spizzirri, Merrill Middle School Iowa Department of Education
	Twelve National Award Winners Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
	District of Distinction District Administration Magazine
	2014 Elementary School Counselor of the Year Iowa School Counselor Association
	2014 School Social Worker of the Year Iowa School Social Workers Association
	2013 Elementary and Middle School Art Educators of the Year Art Educators of Iowa
	Nation’s Top College-Prep High Schools – Roosevelt Washington Post
	Five High Schools on the Iowa AP Top 50 Index Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education
	2016 NSPRA Golden Achievement Winner Award of Excellence (multiple years) National School Public Relations Association
	Certificate of Excellence Award Recipient (multiple years) Association of School Business Officials International
	Certificate of Achievement Recipient (multiple years) Government Finance Officers Association
	2012 Green Ribbon School – Central Campus 2013 Green Ribbon District – DMPS U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

Other honors earned by Des Moines Public Schools include:

2023 Forbes Magazine – One of American’s Best Midsized Employers
2023 University of Iowa’s Career Impact Award
2023 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award (12x winner)
2023 Iowa School Public Relations Associations Blue and Gold Honors
2023 9th Annual International Mathematical Modeling Challenge Qualifier, Central Academy
2023 Iowa High School Girls Track and Field 3 State Titles, Hoover High School
2023 Iowa High School Boys Soccer Tournament qualifier, Hoover High School
2023 Iowa High School Boys Basketball Tournament qualifier, Hoover High School
2023 (May) WHO-TV Golden Apple Award
2023 Rotary Club of Des Moines Teachers of the Year
2023 NIAAA Certified Master Athletic Administrator
2023 IHSAA Character Counts Coach of the Year
2023 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Crystal Pillar Student Award
2023 Iowa Junior Olympics 3P Air Rifle State Champions
2022 Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame
2022 Iowa School Social Workers Association Friend of Children Award
2022 Iowa High School Press Association’s Rod Vahl Award
2022 National Association of Social Workers Catherine G. Williams Lifetime Diversity Achievement Award
2022 Iowa Council of Teachers of English Barb Schubert Award
2022 Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Collectable Pottery Designer and Producer
2022 National High School Mediation Student Champion – Central Academy
2022 Class III Contemporary State Dance Champions – Roosevelt
2022 Iowa High School Press Association News Team of the Year – East, Hoover, North
2022 Iowa Alliance Conference Inaugural Volleyball Tournament Champs – Roosevelt
2021 Iowa Council Teachers of English Iowa High School Teacher of Excellence
2021 Iowa History Teacher of the Year
2021 Eight-time Energy Star Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence
2021 Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Administrator Award
2021 Iowa School Public Relations Association (25 communications awards)
2020 Iowa High School Press Association Administrator of the Year
2020 Iowa School Social Workers Association Iowa School Social Worker of the Year
2019 Twelve-time ASBO Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting winner
2019 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching Finalist
2019 National School Boards Association Magna Award
2018 Capital City Pride Ally of the Year
2018 Iowa Juneteenth Mary McCleod Bethune Award
2017 NSDA Iowa Educator of the Year
2017 ISSWA Friend of Children Award
2017 Stephen Tsai Award for Excellence in Autism Education
2017 IHSPA Administrator of the Year
2017 PBS Digital Innovator
2017 ISPRA Blue & Gold Award
2017 Facilities Management Decision magazine’s Achievement Award
2017 Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (Findley Elementary School)
2016 Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (Madison Elementary School)
2016 Governor’s Arts Award
2016 Iowa Environmental Excellence Award
2016 HealthierUS School Challenge Award
2016 Iowa Distance Learning Association Innovator Award
2016 ADK Excellence in Education Award
2016 Social Studies Teacher of the Year
2016 PBS Tech Innovator of the Year
2016 MLK Make a Difference Award
2016 ADBOI Meritorious Budget Award
2016 Science Bound High School of the Year
2014 EPA Battle of the Buildings 1st Place (Findley Elementary School)
2014 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching finalists
2014 Prostart Educator of Excellence Award
2014 Iowa School Social Worker of the Year by the Iowa School Social Workers Association
2014 Four Rotary Educators of the Year
2014 Rising Star by the Journalism Education Association
2014 Finalists for Iowa Teacher of the Year
2013 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching winner
2013 Dr. Robert E. and Phyllis M. Yager Exemplary Teaching Recognition Award
2013 Steve France Lifetime Achievement Award
2012 Finalist for Iowa Teacher of the Year
2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching finalists
2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching winner
2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching finalists
2011 James Madison Fellowship for the state of Iowa
Art Educator of the Year by the Art Educators of Iowa
Outstanding Secondary Art Educator by the Art Educators of Iowa
2010 Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching by the Mathematical Association of America
2009 Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Junior High/Middle School Mathematics Teaching
Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association for the school district’s comprehensive annual financial report.
Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year for the state of Iowa by the National Association of Biology Teachers
Educator of the Year by the Printing Industry of the Midwest
2010 Excellence in Education Award runner-up
Daughters of the American Revolution US History Teacher of the Year nominee
Financial Literacy Educator of the Year for the state of Iowa
2010 Toyota International Teacher Program honoree
Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials
2010 James Bryant Conant Award in High School Teaching.
2009 James Madison Fellowship in American History
Iowa Industrial Technology Education Middle School Teacher of Excellence