School Communicators Examine How to Prevent the Spread of False Information about Schools in Their Communities and on Social Media
Spreading false information about what is taking place inside schools today is a rapidly increasing problem in communities. An AASA national conference workshop on Thursday afternoon provided suggestions for how to combat the harmful trend. According to attendees at the one-hour workshop titled “From Distortion to Clarity: Helping School Districts Overcome False Information,” the main […]
As the State of High School Athletes Shifts, Schools Must Redouble Efforts to Keep Programs Alive, Two School Leaders Tell Conferees
The picture of a student-athlete is changing. That was the focus in a session titled “Honoring Cultural Traditions Through School Athletics” at the AASA national conference Thursday. Cecilia Robinson Woods, superintendent of the Millwood Public Schools in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Ronald Jones, deputy superintendent of Tyler Independent School District in Tyler, Texas, shared how […]
Jefferson County, Ala., District Leader Named the 37th Recipient of the National Superintendent of the Year Award at AASA’s Annual Conference
Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. received a new blue blazer, an oversized $10,000 poster-board check and the distinction of being named on Thursday afternoon the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year at AASA’s National Conference on Education in New Orleans. Gonsoulin, 56, is the superintendent of the Jefferson County Schools in Birmingham, Ala., a post he has held […]
Walter Gonsoulin, an Alabama Educator Who Embraces School Choice and ‘Leads With His Heart,’ Named 2025 National Superintendent of the Year
As the superintendent of Jefferson County Schools in Birmingham, Ala., Walter Gonsoulin Jr. oversees 56 schools with 35,000 students in an area that’s roughly the size of Rhode Island. It’s the state’s second largest district, with a diverse student body. Gonsoulin was ready for the task when he took on the job in 2020. He […]
From Mimbleballs to Augmented Reality Sandboxes, AASA’s Exhibit Hall Highlights Hands-on Fun
In a world where students have cellphones tethered to them and screens play a central role in classrooms, some vendors inside the AASA national conference’s exhibit hall in New Orleans were focused on something a little different — hands-on learning and expressions of fun. And conference-goers were lining up to learn more. At the Mimbleball […]
What Defines Walter Gonsoulin? Soliciting Student Voice, Savoring Hot Sauce and Much More
A few odds and ends that define the qualities of the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year honoree, Walter Gonsoulin Jr., superintendent of Jefferson County Schools in Birmingham, Ala. Seeking an Earful from Students Walter Gonsoulin genuinely wants feedback directly from students about how their schools are serving their needs, so he launched a student […]
Promoting Equity Today in Public Education Comes Down to Putting Kids at the Center, Wallace Foundation Panel Says
At each level in the educational ecosystem, school leaders play a vital role in ensuring equity for students. That’s why the Wallace Foundation believes that empowering equity-focused principals is essential — so they have the tools to empower students. At the AASA National Conference on Education on Thursday, attendees were treated to an insightful Thought […]
Federal Relations Luncheon Speaker Stands and Speaks Loudly About the Dangers of School Vouchers
At the Federal Relations Luncheon on Thursday, Josh Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University and author of The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers delivered a compelling session on the dangers of school vouchers, describing them as a direct threat to states’ budgets, education funding and […]
Calling Public Schooling ‘A Bipartisan American Value,’ Schuler Unveils New Framework to Reclaim the Narrative through AASA’s Public Education Promise
AASA Executive Director David Schuler used the 1st General Session of the 2025 National Conference on Education in New Orleans Thursday afternoon to unveil the association’s Public Education Promise, an initiative to help reclaim the narrative of public education’s indispensable place in the country’s democratic fabric. Schuler, in his 20-minute stage presentation, said he hopes […]
School District Leaders Share Innovative Approaches to Safety and Student Engagement
The average school building in America is 49 years old, with only 21 percent receiving significant renovations, according to a recent study. But as school leaders grapple with addressing pressing challenges facing America’s aging school infrastructure, they also must respond to evolving safety and mental health concerns. During an AASA conference panel discussion on Thursday […]
