The Awards

Educators are the stalwarts of a community: they are the profession through which all other professions are made possible. The OPEAs provide a space where their unique successes and stories can be shared and celebrated.

The awards celebrate the fulfillment of displaying “what works and why,” with the honorees themselves being selected based on the Correlates of Effective Schools research. Each school’s qualifications and results are painstakingly analyzed, with the end goal of holding up the most effective changemakers working day in and day out in service of the children of New Orleans.

OPEN is humbled to be able to salute the accomplishments of the OPEA honorees and honorable mentions. Each individual and entity works arduously and holds an unwavering belief in this community and its students. Sometimes, they do their work in spite of the circumstances or prediction – and make it look easy while doing so. Their example calls all of us to a higher standard, to a collective commitment to create a public education system of which our children and our community can be proud.

The 2014 Awards

We cordially invite you to join us as OPEN celebrates this year’s honorees on November 15, 2014. We’ll begin the event with a VIP cocktail reception, followed by the awards presentation and networking amongst prominent community leaders, educators, and civic activists.

The awards will be held from 7pm to 10pm at Harrah’s Casino Theater on Saturday, November 15. Individual tickets will be $75, and Friends of OPEN ($125) get access to the VIP reception as well.

Purchase tickets through Eventbrite, or email Zakenya Perry, OPEN Director of Programs.

Sponsor The Awards

Your sponsorship serves to increase the capacity to research, educate, and support the growth of excellent and equitable education for public school students and parents.

 Click here to download the 2014 sponsorship packet.

The OPEAs came about from one simple fact: in a quickly-growing city, with over 70% of our children educated in public schools, there was no place to celebrate outstanding educators or hold up what excellence looks like in our school system. These agents of change deserve high-profile recognition, and the OPEAs provide it to them with the goal of applauding, motivating, and inspiring the educators community.

Your contribution as a sponsor will help us to honor and celebrate organizations and individuals who are creating exceptional results in academic excellence and equity. You will also receive our fullest commitment to promoting your brand in the OPEAs’ written and electronic communications, plus featured ad placement in the event itself.

Your Benefits as a Sponsor

We value your organization’s sponsorship as a major source of funding for the OPEN Public Education Awards Ceremony. The event is projected to attract approximately 500 guests, many of whom are prominent local business owners and civic leaders, and can serve as a powerful platform to market your brand. We are committed to ensuring that your presence is maximized throughout our event, strengthening your visibility and raising awareness of your support of education growth and success in the community.

Our sponsorship packages are also designed to maximize your organization’s profile as a supporter of education through innovative marketing and media print material, which will generate thousands of impressions highlighting your organization’s partnership with the event. Your visibility will be promoted through the following channels:

• Advertisements and Press Release – Our press release will reach at least 3,000 individuals through our contact list, which will include your organization’s logo and partnership announcement.
• Community Awareness – The event will be marketed citywide to community leaders, neighborhood associations, schools, partnering organizations and businesses.
• Online Media – Promotional graphics and updates will be displayed on our website approximately
60 days prior to the event and 30 days after the ceremony, serving as an official thanks to our sponsoring partners.
• Print Media - All sponsoring organizations’ logos will be printed in award programs, invitations, brochures and any campaign material delivered to our target audiences.
• Press Relations – We are partnered with a premier public relations firm that will implement an comprehensive marketing and media outreach campaign.

Other benefits include:

• Networking and getting to know and interact with representatives from various vertical markets.
• Being a part of something new and innovative in the local education arena.
• Opportunities to converse with the community leaders and CEO-level decision makers who will be attending the event.
• Garnering public goodwill from the community as a business that supports education.

For more information on sponsorship levels and packages, click here to download the sponsorship packet. Contact our Director of Programs Zakenya Perry at (504) 821-4004 ext. 300, or [email protected], for more information. We look forward to seeing you at public education’s biggest celebration!

School Participation

All public schools and student-serving organizations in Orleans Parish are invited you to participate in the 2014 OPEN Public Education Awards.

 Click here to download the 2014 school participation packet.

You may submit your organization for consideration in three categories: Teacher Quality Award, School and Community Partnership Award, and Outstanding Community Partner Award. The event is projected to attract around 500 attendees, many of them prominent members of the business and political communities, and will generate tens of thousands of impressions in advertising.

Click here to download the school participation packet.

Participation checklist:
• Identify which award(s) your school would like to be nominated for
• Complete all survey assessments at www.opennola.org by September 30, 2014
• Mark your calendar for site visits to your school