Do You Know a Winner?

  Available Now - New SIC lapel pins
  The new SIC lapel pin is available for order at $1.00 each, plus $2.95 shipping and handling. Distinguish your SIC members with this attractive design, featuring gold "SIC" lettering against the state of SC on an enameled white disk. Gold trim accents the pin. Contact our office to order yours!

This award was created by the SC-SIC Board of Trustees in honor of former SC Governor and US Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and his wife, Tunky, in 2002.  The annual award recognizes School Improvement Councils for outstanding achievement and civic engagement on behalf of their school.

The Riley awards process has three levels. The deadline for Level One applications will be announced here. (The 2008 deadline was November 17th, 2008.) Applicants selected for Level Two will be asked to submit supplemental portfolio materials. (These were to be submitted by February 2nd, 2009 for the 2008 awards process. This deadline will also be posted here as the 2009 - 2010 school year draws closer.) In the Winners Level, five finalist SICs will be notified of their status in the weeks following. The winner of the 2010 Riley School Improvement Award will be announced at a special awards event to be scheduled for the spring.

Pertinent information about the application process, requirements, deadlines, and other details can be accessed below. Many fine things are happening in our schools and effective (and potentially award-winning) SICs are a driving force behind a good number of them. The Riley Award is a great way to honor their hard work and the value they bring to our schools

The 2008 - 2009 application may be downloaded below so that your SIC might examine what the Riley Award process entails. Get ready for the 2009 - 2010 school year and set your SIC on the path to being a Riley Award-winning School Improvement Council!

2008 - 2009 Riley Award Application (Word doc - 54 KB)
2008 - 2009 Riley Award Application (PDF - 24 KB)

• Every school applying for the Dick and Tunky Riley School Improvement Award now has the opportunity to land a place on the SIC Honor Roll!
• SICs earning 55 out of 65 points in Level One of the competition will be recognized as Honor Roll SICs.
• Honor Roll SICS will receive a special certificate from SC-SIC acknowledging their outstanding effort in building an effective School Improvement Council.
• Up to 20 Honor Roll SICs will be chosen as semi-finalists for the Riley Award.

Case Statements

• For winning examples of case statements for the application process, click on the links below to download case statements written by 2007 winner Chukker Creek Elementary School or Honorable Mentions Taylors Elementary School and Pineview Elementary School.
• Your case statement may be similar to these or very different - each SIC has a unique story to share.
• Follow the format described in the application instructions, include all components and check spelling and grammar - it counts!

Riley Award Case Statement - Chukker Creek ES (Word document 37 KB)
Riley Award Case Statement - Taylors ES (Word document 32 KB)
Riley Award Case Statement - Pineview ES (Word document 25 KB)

The SIC Advocate of the Year Award

The SIC Advocate of the Year Award recognizes exemplary efforts by an individual or team on behalf of school improvement councils.  This award is presented by the SC School Improvement Council Board of Trustees to someone who goes above and beyond to support and promote school improvement councils in their particular sphere of influence. In previous years the award has been presented to a district level staff person, a pair of legislators, and a principal - SIC chair team.