CUBE Awards

CUBE Awards

Get Your CUBE Award Applications Ready!
The CUBE Awards 2023 application sites are now open. This year, the Council of Urban Boards of Education will award the Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award and the CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence during the CUBE Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the U.S. Army, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the CUBE Annual Conference in Chicago.   

CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence

The CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence focuses on school board governance, highlighting school boards that are showing growth, innovation through policy, and an eagerness to be exemplars to other urban boards. School boards will be judged on a variety of measures across four core areas of urban school board governance: 

  • School Board Performance
  • Academic Improvement
  • Educational Equity
  • Community Engagement

Presented annually by CUBE, this award is open to the leadership team of any current CUBE district in good standing. Click here to access the online application.

The deadline for applications is July 12, 2023. Email equity@nsba.org with questions.

Past Winners

2022: Seattle Public Schools (WA)
2021: Pandemic--No Award Given
2020: Shelby County Schools (TN)
2019: Hillsborough County School District (FL)
2018: Jennings School District (MO), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC), Forth Worth ISD (TX)
2017: Pittsburgh Public Schools (PA), Shelby County Schools (TN), Lancaster Independent School District (TX)

CUBE Chair Micah Ali presents the 2022 CUBE District Award to Brandon Hersey of the Seattle Public Schools school board
several CUBE awards on a table
a woman on stage receives an award

The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award

The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the educational needs of urban school children through their service as a local school board member. Presented annually by CUBE, this award is open to any current or former school board member from a current CUBE district in good standing. Click here to access the online application. 

The award is named for Benjamin Elijah Mays, who joined the Atlanta Board of Education in 1969 and served as its president from 1970-1981. During his tenure on the board, Mays worked tirelessly to provide equal educational opportunities for children. He is also remembered for his outstanding leadership and service as a scholar, teacher, minister, mentor, author, and civil rights activist.

The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored this year by the Diligent Corporation.

The deadline for applications is July 12, 2023. Email equity@nsba.org with questions.

Past Winners

2022: Joyce Wilkerson, Philadelphia (PA)
2021: Pandemic-No Award Given
2020: Rodney Jordan, Norfolk (VA)
2019: Deena A. Hayes, Guilford County (NC)
2018: Cardell C. Patillo, Jr., Portsmouth (VA)
2017: Vince Ford, Columbia (SC) & Dr. Steve Gallon, Miami (FL)
2016: Cheryl D. Mayes, Nashville (TN)
2015: Curtis T. Walker, Minister of Beth-El A.M.E. Zion Church in Cleveland, OH
2014: Lock Beachum (OH)
2014: Dr. Elizabeth Daniels (VA) - award posthumously
2013: Jerrelle Francois, Baltimore (MD)
2012: Dr. Joseph A. Buck, Savannah Chatham County (GA)
2011: Ms. Eva Carrillo Dong, Tucson (AZ)
2010: Mr. Henry J. Godfrey, Hampton (VA)
2009: Dr. John Harding Lucas, Sr., Durham (NC)
2008: Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva, Virginia Beach (VA)
2007: Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Atlanta (GA) – awarded posthumously