Educators, Graduate Students Recognized for Completing AASA Urban Superintendents Academy Programs at National Conference on Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org

San Diego – Feb. 13, 2020 – In response to the challenges facing public school districts in America’s urban communities, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the names of the outstanding educators who completed the organization’s Urban Superintendents Academy programs. The announcement was made at the 2020 National Conference on Education, where hundreds of school system leaders are discussing the most critical issues in public education.  

The academy is a cross-institutional partnership that offers a dynamic approach to urban superintendent preparation and certification. AASA has launched distinct partnerships with Howard University and the University of Southern California to bolster the effectiveness of school district leadership in our nation’s urban areas.

"For years, the AASA Urban Superintendents Academy has been providing sitting and aspiring superintendents with a thorough and visionary program designed to develop and support effective urban school district leaders," said Daniel A. Domenech, AASA executive director. "The partnerships between AASA, Howard University and the University of Southern California were created to dramatically bolster the effectiveness of district leadership in our nation's urban areas. I congratulate the outstanding men and women we are honoring at our National Conference on Education for successfully completing our programs."    

The Urban Superintendents Academy is recognized as one of the premier programs in the country. Drawing on strengths of its members and partners, AASA brings the most effective and inspiring thought leader practitioners to serve as instructors, mentors and presenters.     

The AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy® cohort graduates are:

• Anthony Anderson, deputy superintendent, Pittsburgh Public School District, Pittsburgh, Pa.  
• Nadia Bennett, principal, Mastery Charter Schools, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Sherrie Birts, executive consultant, Victorious Life International Education Consulting Group, Park Forest, Ill.
• Jody Bloyer, deputy chief, secondary transformation, Racine Unified School District, Racine, Wis. 
• Chrystal Bolden, district instructional specialist, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Upper Marlboro, Md.
•  Michelle Boyd, executive director, Piedmont Regional Education Program, Charlottesville, Va.  
  
• Arcelius Brickhouse, director of student services, Dorchester County Public Schools, Cambridge, Md.
• Warletta Brookins, former superintendent, Wis.
•  Lucretia Brown, assistant superintendent, Allentown School District, Allentown, Pa.
•  Eboni Chillis, CTAE director, Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, Ga.
• Niquelle Cotton, chief executive officer, strategy officer, Q-Factor Consulting LLC, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
• Chevonne Hall, chief executive officer, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Baltimore, Md.   Nyah Hamlett, chief of staff, Loudoun County Public Schools, Ashburn, Va.
• Kyeko Henderson, graduate student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.  
• Ramona Hollie-Major, director, field operations, National Institute for School Leadership, Washington, D.C.
• Monica Kelsey-Brown, assistant superintendent, School District of Brown Deer, Brown Deer, Wis.  
• Shaun Mason, manager, school operations support, Baltimore City Public School District, Baltimore, Md.  
• Jazz Parks, executive director, middle level education, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Delilia Pinckney, graduate student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.  
• Josh Rideaux, graduate student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Marcy Roan, principal, Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
• Lorenzo Russell, academic superintendent, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland, Ohio
• Deltonia Shropshire, medical educator, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Ralph Simpson, deputy superintendent, Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, Ga.  
• Billy Walker, principal, Shelby County Schools, Memphis, Tenn. 
  
• Triscilla Weaver, regional superintendent, Dekalb County School District, Stone Mountain, Ga.
• Lyndsie Whitehead, graduate student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.  
• Shamera Wilkins, graduate student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Briant Williams, principal, Muscogee County School District, Columbus, Ga
• Darrell Williams, administrator, division of emergency management, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Madison, Wis.
• Jamie Wilson, chief human resources officer, Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, Ga.
• Jermall Wright, superintendent, Achievement School District, Belzoni, Miss.  
• Mary Young, superintendent, Warren County Schools, Warrenton, N.C.

THE AASA/USC Urban Superintendents Academy® cohort graduates are:

• Kimberly Berman, superintendent, Mill Valley School District, Mill Valley, Calif. 
• Renae Bryant, director, English learner and multilingual services, Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim, Calif.  
• Bobbi Burkett, assistant superintendent, Alpine Union School District, Alpine, Calif.
• Charla Chailland, ESL specialist, Indianapolis Public School District, Indianapolis, Ind. 
• Heather Griggs, superintendent, Oro Grande School District, Oro Grande, Calif.  
• Verenice Gutierrez, director, educational equity and access, Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Antoinette Hudson, instructional superintendent, Denver Public Schools, Denver, Colo.
• Wardell Hunter, director, leadership development, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta, Ga.
• Josie Jackson, assistant superintendent, Perris Elementary School District, Perris, Calif.  
• Todd Jaeger, superintendent, Amphitheater Public Schools, Tucson, Ariz.  
  
• Andy Johnsen, superintendent, Lakeside Union School District, Lakeside, Calif.  
• Maritza Koeppen, superintendent, Vallecitos School District, Rainbow, Calif. 
• Paul Marietti, superintendent, Fowler Unified School District, Fowler, Calif.  
• Valencia Mayfield, assistant superintendent, ABC Unified School District, Cerritos, Calif.  
• Greg Nehen, assistant superintendent, Antelope Valley Union High School District, Lancaster, Calif.  
• Yolanda Rogers, executive leadership coach, San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego, Calif.  
• Jennifer Root, assistant superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim, Calif.  
• Shiree Slade, director, curriculum and instruction, University Heights Charter School, West Orange, N.J.  
• Yee Wan, director, multilingual and humanities education, Santa Clara County Office of Education, San Jose, Calif.
• Avis Williams, superintendent, Selma City Schools, Selma, Ala.

For more information about AASA’s Urban Superintendents Academy, contact Mort Sherman, AASA associate executive director, leadership services and awards, at msherman@aasa.org.

AASA’s National Conference on Education is regarded as the most comprehensive professional learning and networking event for school superintendents and administrators.

For more information about the conference, access AASA’s Conference Daily Online.

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. 

###