Superintendent's Award

Recognizing Excellence in Museum Education


The Superintendent’s Award for Excellence in Museum Education competition recognizes the outstanding achievements in California museum programs that serve K-12 students and/or educators. The competition is the joint project of the sponsors, the California Association of Museums (CAM) and the California Department of Education (CDE). Since 2012, the competition has recognized 66 programs, presented by a diverse range of institutions that demonstrate the vibrant contributions museums make to California’s K-12 educational system. In 2023, CAM and the CDE recognize 6 outstanding programs that took place in 2022. 
 

Submissions are closed for the 2023 season. If you would like to see the award instructions and scoring rubric for future reference:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art ‒ Mobile Programs

LACMA's Mobile Programs offer unique workshops to 6th and 7th-grade students across Los Angeles County. With its two 48-foot mobile classrooms, the Maya Mobile and Ancient World Mobile, educators lead students in safely handling and analyzing objects from LACMA's collections and creating personalized art projects.

New Museum Los Gatos ‒ ArtNow: NUMU's Annual Juried Santa Clara County High School Art Exhibition

ArtNow is an annual juried Santa Clara County high school art exhibition and educational program that offers opportunities for high school student artists, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, to gain real-world experience in a juried museum exhibition. Accepted students have the opportunity to win awards in 8 artistic categories as well as an overall Best in Show prize and a People’s Choice award.

Exploratorium ‒ High School Explainer Program

The High School Explainer Program provides a unique youth and workforce development opportunity, putting diverse youth ages 15-18 in charge of the Exploratorium’s primary interpretive experience. Serving as the Exploratorium’s youngest employees, Explainers lead demonstrations, engage visitors, and run many museum operations, developing their communication skills and confidence in their ability to learn.

 

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History ‒ Watershed to the Sea

Watershed to the Sea is a field-based, community science program where middle and high school students examine the health of their local ecosystem. Students participate in multi-day in-class and field research projects and present their research or community action projects at the Student Research Symposium.

 

 

 

Peralta Hacienda Historical Park ‒ Field Trip Program

Peralta Hacienda Historical Park field trips bring history to life through hands-on activities and inquiry-based discussions. We offer two standards-aligned, peer-reviewed programs. Ohlone Daily Life, developed in collaboration with indigenous culture bearers, immerses students in past and present Native cultures. Rancho Daily Life invites students to explore Californio-era colonial and Native experiences.

 

 

 

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles ‒ Contemporary Art Start

Contemporary Art Start is MOCA’s sustained, collaborative partnership program for 3rd-12th grade classrooms of all disciplines. CAS supports teachers with discussion-based classroom curriculum and personalized coaching on how to lead inclusive and catalytic conversations about the art of our time.