Virginia School District Leader Recognized for EmpowerED Digital Superintendent Award at AASA’s National Conference on Education
February 19, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org
Alexandria, Va. – Feb. 19, 2021 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to congratulate Aaron Spence, superintendent, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, as the recipient of the EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year award. The award was presented on behalf of AASA, as well as CoSN, the Consortium for School Networking, at the virtual 2021 National Conference on Education.
The EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year Award, sponsored by ClassLink, is given annually to a district leader who has championed the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Spence has built a culture that fosters innovation in schools throughout his district and across the broader Virginia Beach community. Spence was also honored last spring at CoSN’s annual conference and the recognition at AASA NCE 2021 completes a year of recognition.
“Building a dynamic, digital learning environment is a must-have in strengthening a school district and its community. Aaron Spence is a glowing example of doing just that through his outstanding work at Virginia Beach City Public Schools,” said Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, AASA. “Making digital transitions a reality will often lead to a positive culture of learning, which is one of the reasons why Aaron is a champion for children. We are pleased to congratulate him for this recognition at our National Conference on Education.”
“At a time when superintendents across the country are working tirelessly to bring learning solutions to their communities in the COVID environment in which we live, it is truly an honor to receive this prestigious award,” said Spence. “This health crisis has revealed just how important technology is to the successful delivery of educational experiences. But it has also exposed gaps in learning and equity that existed before the pandemic, as well as the need for social and emotional supports. I am grateful to AASA, CoSN and Classlink for supporting the EmpowerED initiative.”
“Superintendent Aaron Spence provides exemplary leadership and models how leaders can make a difference for all students by using the tools of today,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN. “He has been an innovative leader in using data to ensure equity. CoSN is proud to join with AASA in presenting the EmpowerED Digital Superintendent to Dr. Spence.”
AASA and CoSN launched a partnership in 2019, committed to building a community of engaged superintendents and other school system leaders who have the skills and knowledge to bolster dynamic digital learning environments on behalf of K-12 students.
To help superintendents continue to build dynamic digital learning environments on behalf of the staff and students they serve, AASA and CoSN created the EmpowerED Superintendents Toolkit, an online portal to provide district leaders with rich information to help enhance their skill areas, tools and action steps. In addition, both organizations continue to provide resources on a wide variety of critical technological issues such as cybersecurity, student data privacy, cloud computing and more, which can be accessed at https://www.cosn.org/superintendents or by contacting Valerie Truesdale, AASA assistant executive director, leadership development, at vtruesdale@aasa.org.
Superintendents and other school system leaders are encouraged to access the monthly EmpowerED Superintendent “Super-Connected” webinar series. Co-produced by CoSN in collaboration with AASA, and sponsored by ClassLink, the program airs on the second Monday of every month at 5:00 p.m. (ET). For more information, visit https://www.edweb.net/supers.
The National Conference on Education routinely convenes the most prominent education thought leaders addressing the most pressing issues in the education landscape. The ongoing challenges brought on by the public health crisis escalates the importance of a national conference where the leaders of our nation’s public school districts are attending.
For more information about the conference, access AASA’s Conference Daily Online.
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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.
About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. cosn.org
