Nation’s Superintendents to Gather in San Diego for AASA’s 2020 National Conference on Education
January 22, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org
National Superintendent of the Year® to be Announced
Alexandria, Va. – January 22, 2020 – School system leaders from across the nation are gathering in San Diego, Feb. 13-15, for the 2020 National Conference on Education.
Regarded as the most comprehensive professional learning and networking event for school superintendents and administrators, this event, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, will address the most critical issues affecting public education today, including equity in education, social and emotional learning, personalizing education, early learning, technology, and school safety and leadership.
Themed “The Personalization of Education,” the conference will provide attendees opportunities to engage with their peers about improving academic outcomes for the more than 50 million students learning and growing in our public schools every day.
“Throughout the year, I have the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the work being carried out by superintendents from coast to coast who are creating positive learning environments on behalf of the students they’re serving,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “It is gratifying to know that many of these champions for children will be sharing winning strategies and positive ideas with each other at our National Conference on Education. By doing so, they will be helping each other strive for excellence in order for America’s youth to be successful in college, career and life.”
- David Brooks, op-ed columnist for The New York Times (Feb. 13)
- Linda Darling-Hammond, president and CEO, Learning Policy Institute, Palo Alto, Calif. (Feb. 14)
- Mawi Asgedom, founder, Mawi Learning; strategic advisor of social and emotional learning, ACT (Feb. 15)
On Day No. 1 of the conference, the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year® will be named. The four finalists, announced on Dec. 17, 2020, include:
- Gustavo Balderas, Eugene School District 4J, Eugene, Ore.
- Samantha Fuhrey, Newton County School System, Covington, Ga.
- Michael Nagler, Mineola Public Schools, Mineola, N.Y.
- Jeffery Smith, Hampton City Schools, Hampton, Va.
(Watch the video: “AASA’s 2020 National Superintendent of the Year® Finalists”, capturing the recent press briefing held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., featuring these outstanding school district leaders.)
In addition, the recipients of the 2020 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award will be honored. This award recognizes leaders who exemplify the qualities modeled by the late Effie Hall Jones, an educator and former AASA associate executive director. Honorees will include Steven T. Webb, superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools, and Joe A. Hairston (posthumous), former associate professor at Howard University and co-founder of the AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy.
AASA will also recognize the recipients of its Women in School Leadership Award. This award pays tribute to the talent, creativity and vision of outstanding women educational administrators in the nation.
The Friends of AASA Award is a new recognition this year. This award is given by AASA’s executive director to a non-educator or school district-based person or group/organization who has consistently supported the mission of AASA and has given their time and effort to help the association accomplish its goals to advocate on behalf of public education and assist with the professional development of its members.
During the conference, superintendents who have completed the rigorous National Superintendent Certification Program will be recognized for their achievements. Another cadre of educators will be recognized for completing the AASA Urban Superintendents Academy with Howard University and the University of Southern California. This program offers a dynamic approach to urban superintendent preparation to bolster the effectiveness of school district leadership in our nation’s urban areas.
AASA’s Social Media Lounge will feature insightful sessions and hand-on training for education leaders to share tips and tricks about the latest social media tools and best practices being used in school districts. Attendees can also engage with their peers online by using the hashtag #NCE2020 in social media posts.
From start to finish, attendees will have the opportunity to follow the activities and conversations in San Diego through AASA’s Conference Daily Online. The award-winning, multimedia publication, updated each evening, provides a comprehensive report on the conference proceedings, including coverage of key speakers, award winners and AASA governance activities, plus photos and short videos, a Twitter feed and a conference blog that shares the experiences of four participating superintendents.
For more information about the 2020 National Conference on Education, visit http://nce.aasa.org/.
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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.
