National Superintendent of Year Finalists Hail from Georgia, New York, Oregon and Virginia
The 2020 National Superintendent of the Year® will be announced at the AASA national conference’s 1st General Session on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 13, in San Diego.
Indiana Superintendent Offered Travel Option to Dominican Republic for Next Lifetouch Memory Mission
The next Lifetouch Memory Mission, a week-long community-building project, will take place next January in the Dominican Republic, and one AASA conference attendee now has an expense-paid option of participating. Drawn randomly from entries submitted was Jeff Butts, superintendent of the Wayne Township School District in Indianapolis, Ind. His name was announced from the stage […]
California Superintendent Receives 14th Annual VH1 Save the Music Award at 3rd General Session

Francisco Escobedo, superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District in Chula Vista, Calif., was honored at the AASA conference’s 3rd General Session on Saturday morning as the 2019 recipient of the VH1 Save The Music Award. [See a short video interview with Escobedo in Conference Daily Online.] This marked the 14th time the award […]
VIDEO: VH1 Save the Music Award Winner Francisco Escobedo (2:44)

The superintendent in Chula Vista, Calif., on what his schools are trying to do to support a robust music program among elementary school students in need.
VIDEO: Marie Izquierdo on Her Women’s Leadership Award (0:53)

The central-office administrator in Dade County, Fla., on the personal meaning of earning one of the 2019 AASA Women in School Leadership awards.
VIDEO: Wanda Cook-Robinson on Her Women’s Leadership Award (1:09)

The superintendent in Oakland, Mich., on how she hopes to inspire the next generation of female leaders.
Effie Jones Luncheon Call: ‘Let Us Be Dissatisfied’

Charles H. F. Davis III began his keynote address midday Friday at the annual Effie H. Jones Memorial Luncheon in an unusual manner. He led the attendees through a rousing rendition of what’s widely considered the “black national anthem” – James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Davis, an assistant professor of clinical education […]
Leaders From Michigan and Florida Grab Women Leadership Awards

A superintendent from Michigan and a central-office leader in Florida were honored as AASA’s 2019 Women in School Leadership award winners at the 2nd General Session on Friday morning. The honoree in the superintendent category was Wanda Cook-Robinson, superintendent, Oakland Schools, Waterford, Mich. The titlist in the central-office/principal category was Marie Izquierdo, chief academic officer, […]
Two-Decade Army Vet Crowned 2019 National Superintendent of the Year®

Curtis L. Jones Jr., who spent the first 20 years of his professional life serving in the U.S. Army before taking on public school leadership in Georgia, was named the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year®.
5th Leader in District’s 7 Years but 1st in the Nation: Profile of National Superintendent of Year®

When business leader Roy Bibb sat down for lunch with the new leader of the Bibb County School District in Macon, Ga., he wasn’t sure what to expect. After all, Curtis L. Jones Jr. had spent 20 years as an Army officer, topping out at lieutenant colonel, before embarking on a new career in public education.