Distinguished Service Awards
Distinguished Service Awards are given annually to retired AASA members who exhibit exemplary leadership throughout their careers and who have enhanced the profession of school administration.
Eligibility
Nominations
Selection Process
Eligible nominees are retired AASA members who:
- have been members for at least 10 years
- have been retired for at least one year
- have brought honor to themselves, their colleagues and their profession
- have given exemplary service to their state or national professional association
- have made significant contributions to the field of education through their service, writings and other activities
The immediate past president of AASA is automatically nominated to receive this recognition.
AASA begins accepting nominations in April annually.
Nominations must be completed via the online form by September 30.
At least two but no more than four pages of additional data must be attached to the nomination through the online form.
No publications or additional testimonials will be accepted.
The selection of recipients annually shall include at least one person who is not or has not ever been a superintendent of schools if such an individual is nominated and otherwise qualifies, and at least one person who retired as an active superintendent of schools who is nominated and also meets the qualifications.
The nominations shall be judged by a Screening Committee appointed by the president of the Association. Such Committee shall submit its recommendation to the Executive Committee in order for action to be taken prior to the presentation of the award.
Of all nominations received, the Screening Committee shall prepare a list of the top eight nominees in rank order and based upon nominee qualifications, may recommend up to eight (8) award recipients.
Upon the end of his or her presidential term, AASA’s immediate past president will automatically become a nominee of the Distinguished Service Award.
Congratulations to the
2024 Distinguished Service Award Winners
Shari L. Camhi
Dr. Shari L. Camhi is the superintendent of the Baldwin School District, an AASA Lighthouse District, and past president of AASA. She has recently been appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board by U.S. Dept. of Education Secretary Cardona. With more than 30 years’ experience in both business and education, Dr. Camhi has received numerous accolades and recognition for her innovative contributions to K-12 instruction, including Education Week’s “Leaders to Learn From,” NSPRA’s “New Superintendent to Watch,” Education Dive’s “Administrators to Watch.” She was also the recipient of the ISTE Sylvia Charp Award. She is frequently invited to present her work to experts and leaders in the field. Additionally, she has been a member of the American Association of Community College’s Commission for College Readiness, chair of the Educational Telecommunications Service Committee for WNET, co-chair for the Superintendent/College Presidents Partnership for LIRACHE, and an active participant in LICEE. Dr. Camhi received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Blaine C. Hess
Blaine C. Hess, a public-school educator for 39 years, earned his bachelor’s degree from Alderson-Broaddus College and his master’s degree from Marshall University. Hess retired in July 2022 after serving as Superintendent of Jackson County Schools in West Virginia for 16 years. Hess was named West Virginia Superintendent of the Year in 2013 and 2021, as well as 2017 Superintendent of the Year by the West Virginia Music Educator’s Association for his support of the Arts. Hess served as President of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators in 2012 and 2020. He was an AASA Governing Board Member from 2015 to 2019 and served on the AASA Executive Committee from 2019 until his retirement in 2022. Hess remains involved in public education by serving as a mentor to new superintendents through the West Virginia Department of Education, and as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors for West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Mark Joraanstad
Dr. Mark Joraanstad retired after six years as the Executive Director of the Arizona School Administrators, completing 50 years in education. He served eight years as Superintendent of Saddle Mountain Unified School District, leading the district out of receivership and through successful bond and override elections. A member of the North Dakota Speech/Theatre Hall of Fame, he authored the national debate topic in 1987-88. In 2015 he was named All-Arizona Superintendent of the Year for medium-sized districts. In 2020 the Capitol Times designated him Leader of the Year in Public Policy. Arizona School Administrators honored him with the Raymond Sterling Kellis Leadership Award in 2023. A Governor’s appointee to the Arizona English Language Learners’ Task Force, he also served on the State Board of Education Professional Practices Advisory Committee. Dr. Joraanstad frequently presents on leadership and educational issues and assists Arizona Governing Boards in Superintendent searches. He is married to noted gifted educator Dr. Dina Brulles.
Past Award Recipients
View All Prior Awardees
2023:
- Paul Imhoff, Director, Government Relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Buckeye, AZ
- Paul Kinder, Former Superintendent, Blue Springs R-IV School District, Blue Springs, MO
- Donna L. Wright, Retired Superintendent, Wilson County Schools, Lebanon, TN
2022:
- Sheldon H. Berman, Retired Superintendent of Andover Public Schools, Andover, MA
- Jim Mahoney, Retired Executive Director of Battelle for Kids, Columbus, OH
- Jule Walker, Retired Deputy State Superintendent of Operations, Montana Office of Public Education, Helena, MT
- Kristi Wilson, Superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District, Buckeye, AZ
2021:
- Paul S. Andrews, Retired Superintendent of Woburn Public School, Woburn, MA
- Gary Kelly, Retired Superintendent of DuQuoin Community Unit School District #300, DuQuoin, IL
- Deborah Kerr, Retired Superintendent of Brown Deer School District, Caledonia, WI
2020:
- Johnny L. Veselka, Executive Director Emeritus, Texas Association of School Administrators, Cedar Park, TX
- Chris Gaines, Superintendent, Mehlville School District, St. Louis, MO
2019:
- Dwight D. Jones, Senior Vice President, Equity, Inclusion & Urban Markets, McGraw-Hill Education, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Gail Pletnick, Retired Superintendent and AASA Past President
2018:
- Tacy Ashby, Senior Vice President of Strategic Educational Alliances at Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, Arizona
- Alton Frailey, Retired Superintendent, Katy Independent School District, Houston, TX
- Darlene Pierce, Retired Business Development, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Alexandria, VA
- Jerry Weast, Retired Superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland
- Jane Westerhold, Retired Superintendent, Community Consolidated School District 62, Des Plaines, IL
2017:
- Robert Mills, Retired Director General, Lester B. Pearson School Board, Dorval, Quebec Canada
- Harry Rossi, Retired Superintendent, District 30 Glenview, Ill.
- David R. Schuler, AASA Past President, Superintendent, Township High School District 214, Arlington Heights, Ill.
- James F. Shoemake, Retired Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma, Wash.
2016:
- Bruce Hunter, for his influence on Capitol Hill to help AASA shape legislation to meet the needs of children.
- Spike Jorgensen, founding member and later executive director of Citizens for hte Educational Advancement of Alaska's Children
- Arthur Stellar, vice president of the National Education Foundation and CyberLearning
- David Pennington, superintendent of the Ponca City Public School District. (Okla.) and past president of AASA
2015:
- Irwin Blumer, 35 years in the education profession as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and finally as superintendent of schools for 16 years in Massachusetts
- James F. Causbyis, one of North Carolina’s most renowned education leaders
- Steve Rasmussen, educational leader in the state of Washington for more than 40 years
- Amy F. Sichel, superintendent of schools for the Abington School District in Abington, Pa. and past president of AASA
- Lawrence C. Walker, educational leader for five decades
2014:
- Benny L. Gooden, superintendent of schools in Fort Smith, Ark.
- Dennis Ray, educational leader for five decades
- Richard L. Thompson, who has served in public education for 45 years
2013:
- Herbert Berg, leader in public education for 40 years
- Patricia Neudecker, public school educator for 30 years
- Paul Shaw, superintendent for twenty-six years in South Carolina and Georgia
2012:
- Edgar B. Hatrick III, AASA past president and superintendent, Loudoun County (Va.)
- Brian L. Talbott, retired national executive director of the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA)
2011:
- Mark T. Bielang, superintendent of Paw Paw Public Schools (Mich.) and AASA past president
- Howard Coble, educator for more than 30 years
- Theodore J. Kowalski, professor at the University of Dayton (Ohio)
