2. Ask for help.
You'll need it. There will be things you don't know; for example,
how many years the person has been in their current position, or their home address. It also helps to have a group of people who feel the same way as you about the potential nominee, and you can brainstorm examples of his/her excellence. In addition, you'll need two additional people to write the required letters of recommendation. Of course, you can always call someone on the Crystal Apple Planning Team for help.

3. Diversify the perspective.
Get people other than yourself to write the letters or enhance your narrative. It's easier to have people that are close by do the additional legwork (like a co-worker and a principal), but it's better to hear from several different perspectives. Letters from a business partner and a parent give the selection team more information about the nominees' dealings outside the school building. If these folks aren't willing/able to write a letter of recommendation, go ahead and include some of their thoughts in your narrative. Another resource is student teachers your nominee has mentored in the past.

4. Catch the mistakes before we do.
Read over the nomination yourself and have someone else read it. Since the selection team usually does not know the nominee, the quality of the nomination packet is as important as the quality of the nominee. Give your nominee every advantage by making sure people's names and other words are spelled correctly, that grammar and punctuation are correct, and that you have followed instructions.

5. Let your true feelings show through.
The selection team will wade through 300+ pages before coming together to select the recipients. The easiest way to make your nomination stand out is to combine humor and touching examples of your nominee's outstanding abilities within the context of the provided guidelines. You wouldn't be nominating this person if you didn't think he/she was the greatest. Get that point across!

…use a "form" nomination (i.e. a letter or narrative used for several people in which the only thing changed is the person’s name).

…submit more than two letters of recommendation.

…submit newspaper articles, photographs, children’s artwork (unless it is acting as a letter of recommendation) or samples of the person’s work (brochures, handbooks, etc.). All nominations are copied seven times, and the above-mentioned items will not make it into the selection team’s packet.

…exceed the one page limit.

…use a font size smaller than an 11 point or margins smaller than .75".

…use "funky" or "cute" fonts. Times New Roman or Arial will suffice.