Testimonials from the Judges
"I decided to support the judging process primarily to learn; both about the criteria and from other teams around the world. The district for which I work is constantly looking to improve processes and uses the Baldrige Criteria to improve our system. The Team Excellence criteria provides specific expectations of process design and improvement while focusing on the team as whole. This is a powerful tool when bringing a group of people together to make improvements. To observe and learn from the teams was energizing and fun and I did, in fact, learn a lot. I am honored to have participated in such a powerful event."
-Mathew Fail
Chief Quality Officer
Iredell-Statesville Schools
"The opportunity to serve as a judge for ASQ's Team Excellence Award was one of the most professionally insightful activities I have ever engaged in. There is a tremendous amount of learning, sharing, camaraderie, and jovial fun that was densely packed into a very few hours with people dedicated to the objective, accurate identification of the best project team performance for a given year. The discussion and detailed analysis that goes on over every criterion, if known to the participating teams, would only enhance the winners' sense of accomplishment. The award is not lightly granted and is analyzed in multiple ways to ensure no error has been made in the final selection. The judging process is highly organized and well supported, which adds to the positive experience. Even the most experienced judge walks away with broadened insight. The team presenters are inspirational in explaining their projects and projecting their passion. Really, there is no better way to celebrate or understand the commitment to Quality in Teamwork than to examine superior examples of it as A Team Excellence Award judge."
-Betty Ziskovsky
Sr. Education Consultant
Lead Education Enterprises Inc.
"My experiences as an 2007 International Team of Excellence Award Finalist (i.e., business award ETEA counterpart) and as an ETEA presenter, judge, and competition advisor can be best summarized by this well known Chinese proverb:
I hear and I forget. I see and I believe. I do and I understand. (Confucius 551-47 BC)Every time I see an ETEA best practice showcase — I believe the way from Good-Great is leveraged by the teaming dynamic, charted by the award criteria, and realized by a team’s innovative blending of them. Every time I am involved as a team mentor, judge or ETEA presenter — I better understand quality tools and proceedings. By applying ETEA principles, I understand completely that it is a proven way to educational excellence.
This is a new school era committed to revealing new solutions, achieving authentic strategic results, and building buy-in sustainability. Not a continuation of old school mandates with top-down compliance enforcement and fault finding. The Educational Team Excellence Award program is a quality way to contribute to your educational mission, build positive change momentum, and address your most pressing problems with inspiring new school solutions and resolve.
I hope by reading (hearing) this testimonial that you will never forget about the ETEA program opportunity to drive your school improvement efforts. See for yourself and become a quality ETEA results believer. Understand by getting involved in the ETEA process that it will add-value to your educational mission, establish a professional learning team, and embed quality proceedings within your own professional skill repertoire."
-Kenneth Getkin
Office Depot - Business Solutions Division - Educational Consultant
ASQ Educational Team of Excellence Award STAR team member
ASQ 2007 International Team of Excellence Award Finalist
Principal & Quality Facilitator - Mt. Lebanon School District (Retired)
"I believe in the process of continuous improvement for individuals, for teams, and for systems.
What an opportunity to experience the process from another perspective, in other settings, and with other people!
The judging experience highlighted for me the challenge to consistently align oneself within the data-driven decision-making process.
Stay focused.
I now better understand the challenge to be clear and direct in communication of strategy and articulating the evidence for meeting criteria.
What validation to begin working with strangers and end as a collaborative team—all in the name of striving to improve. Thank you for the challenge and the opportunity!"
-Rhonda M. Rabbitt
Interim Director
Master of Education-Professional Development
University of Wisconsin-La-Crosse
"As a team judge, I have seen the power of teams to transform and to improve organizations. I have wanted to support the transformation and improvement of our educational organizations in America. I know team problem-solving can do that. After being involved in one round of the Education Team Excellent Award process, I saw schools that were significantly impacted by the process. I intend to continue to stay involved in this process and suggest other professionals ought to get involved also."
-Gary Turner
Owner
Turner Consulting"From a judge perspective, I found this an exceptional opportunity to consolidate my own team experiences by analyzing another team effort and using established criteria that are "customer friendly". If your school or educational organization values teambuilding, or if you plan to enter the Team Excellence recognition process, volunteer to be on a judging team and expand your knowledge. The time you devote to the process will be worthwhile and meeting the other judges opens opportunities for rewarding friendships."
-Jeanne Baxter
Partner,
Quality Education Associates
"I have been privileged to be asked to serve as an ETEA judge since the inception of this program. I enjoy the opportunity to view presentations from what are probably some of the very best teams out there. It’s inspiring to hear their stories and about how they use quality tools and techniques to develop strategies, determine root causes, address issues, communicate with stakeholders, etc. It is also rewarding to provide feedback to the teams about their presentations, and to know that my input may be of value to them in increasing their scores at the final/live event."
-Robert Boykin
Bechtel National
"As a judge for the Educational Team Excellence Award, I love to see the high level of team effort that is being applied within our educational system. We all know the challenges faced by educators these days, so the improvement efforts presented as part of the awards process really stand out as remarkable. To be able to give feedback to the first-round submissions is a privilege, because it not only helps the submitting team but makes me think of all the things that I need to remember while working with my own teams. I look forward to being able to participate in the future, because it’s an event where everybody wins — the schools, the teams, and the judges."
Sue Kozlowski, MSA, CSSBB(ASQ)
Manager,
Performance Improvement
Henry Ford Hospital, H123
"I’ve been a judge for the International Team Excellence Awards (ITEA) competition for six years and it’s really exciting to see that ASQ is reaching out with the NQEC to find teams who excel in the Education community. It’s like a "brand new day". I get to see the different methods and “tools” Education-based teams use in problem solving and continuous improvement and I’m able to relate those to other teams and organizations both inside and outside "Education". It gives me a whole new knowledge base to draw from. Also, while working from the "judges’ arena", it gives me a chance to spread the wealth around by passing on that knowledge to other judges I’m working or networking with and to pass that same knowledge on to other applicants as feedback to improve their processes. It’s just a "win-win" situation for all."
-Keith Nelson
