Excellence in Family Engagement Award
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Celebrating Excellence in Family-School Partnerships and Honoring Leaders Dedicated to Student and Family Success!
AASA, in partnership with the National PTA, is recognizing superintendents who implemented exemplary best practices to integrate family engagement across strategic plans, budgets,
and district infrastructure. The Excellence in Family Engagement Award recognizes a superintendent who has shown a commitment to driving equitable student outcomes by engaging families.
The award will serve as a symbol to encourage other school system leaders to intentionally engage families and contribute to national efforts that sustain public and private funding for family-school partnerships.
The awardee’s district will receive $5,000 to support family engagement initiatives.
This award is open to any superintendent who meets the criteria.
Each candidate will be judged on their demonstrated commitment to equity, transformative engagement, capacity-building, and results.
Candidates must be:
- Active, sitting superintendents
- Current members of AASA
Any individual may nominate a superintendent for this award assuming the nominee meets the criteria in the eligibility section. Self-nominations are not accepted.
What needs to be included on the nomination form?
- Basic nominee and nominator contact information;
- Explanations and examples of how the nominee meets each of the eligibility criteria; and
- Three (3) letters of support.
This award is presented annually at the AASA National Conference on Education.
The awardee’s district will receive $5,000 to support family engagement initiatives.
Honorees must be present at the ceremony.
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Congratulations to the 2025 Excellence in Family Engagement Awardee
Alex Marrero, superintendent, Denver Public Schools (Colo.)
Alex Marrero has served as the superintendent of Denver Public Schools since Spring 2021. He oversees Colorado's largest school district with more than 90,000 students and 15,000 staff across over 200 schools, and a budget of $1.45 billion. As the son of a Cuban refugee and a Dominican immigrant, he advocates for the diverse needs of his students.
Under his leadership, the district achieved its highest-ever graduation rates, increased proficiency rates, and saw the implementation of its first-ever equity-based strategic plan.