AASA Honors Graduates of the 2nd cohort of Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Female Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953 
jminichello@aasa.org

Nearly 50 education leaders nationwide received critical skills to advance their careers

Alexandria, Va. – September 21, 2021 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the names of the nearly 50 public school system leaders across the country who have advanced their careers by completing the second cohort of the AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Female Leaders.

The program brings together women who are on the path to the superintendency to build knowledge and confidence in their ability to lead. The goal of this unique opportunity is to increase the number of women in educational administration positions, leverage their voices in education policy on local and national levels, and build collective impact.

“It’s been a long-standing tradition of AASA to work on behalf of women educators who are aspiring to climb career ladders to better serve their students and inspire other female educators in their communities,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “Our nation needs a robust talent pipeline to serve America’s children. We congratulate our graduates for the outstanding work they’re doing in public education.”

AASA congratulates the following graduates of the 2021 Aspiring Superintendent Academy® for Female Leaders: 

• Bridget Amory, director of student learning, Milford School District, Milford, Del.
• Caroline Arakelian, assistant superintendent of student services, School Administrative Unit 21, Hampton, N.H.
• Susan Balboni, principal, Natick Public Schools, Natick, Mass.
• Jean Barbanente, superintendent, DuPage High School District 88, Addison, Ill.
• Kristy L. Beam, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur, Ga.
• LaShonda Bilbo-Ervin, instructional improvement officer, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, Kansas City, Kan.
• Krystal Bolf, director of STEM and assessment, Tolleson Elementary School District 17, Tolleson, Ariz.
• Channa Byerly, chief financial officer, Duncan Public Schools, Duncan, Okla.
• Tameka Davis, principal, Vicksburg Warren School District, Vicksburg, Miss.
• Jennifer Dean, director of instruction and innovation, Salem City Schools, Salem, Va.
• Maggie J.K. Fehrman, superintendent, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur, Ga.
• Dana Geaslen, assistant superintendent of education services, Edmonds School District 15, Lynwood, Wash.
• Beth C. Gonzalez, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit, Mich.
• LaTarsha Green, deputy superintendent, Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Evanston, Ill.
• Kimberly Ann Hancock, associate superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Savannah, Ga.
• Mayra Helguera, assistant superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, Calif.
• Shana Henry, principal, San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, Calif.
• Lisa Hess, director of teaching and learning, Governor Mifflin School District, Shillington, Pa.
• Sherri Hill, chief school leadership officer, Cobb County School District, Marietta, Ga.
• Julianne Hoefer, assistant superintendent of educational services, Ocean View School District, Huntington Beach, Calif.
• Sonia R. Llamas, assistant superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, Calif.
• Hiacynth D. Martinez, assistant superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, Calif.
• Michelle McBride, assistant superintendent, Florence 1 Schools, Florence, S.C.
• Ginni Elizabeth McDonald, executive director of strategic initiatives and professional learning, Fort Smith Public Schools, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Cynthia Mills, principal, Tolleson Elementary School District, Tolleson, Ariz.
• Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, human resources and legal services director, Kent Independent School District, Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Rachel Monárrez, deputy superintendent, San Bernadino City Unified School District, San Bernadino, Calif.
• Courtney Morawski, supervisor of professional development, Fort Smith Public Schools, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Marcia Murphy, school improvement, federal program, student services coordinator, Noble Local School District, Sarahsville, Ohio
• Julie A. Olesniewicz, assistant superintendent of educational services, Claremont Unified School District, Claremont, Calif.
• Stephanie Osowski, principal, Yosemite Unified School District, Oakhurst, Calif.
• Lorraine Mora Perez, deputy superintendent of educational services, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, Calif.
• Taneshia H. Rachal, principal coach, Greensville County Public Schools, Emporia, Va.
• Pamela Randazzo, principal, New York City Region 6, Westbury, N.Y.
• Lori Rapp, deputy superintendent, Lewisville Independent School District, Lewisville, Texas
• Tracy Simmons Reed, chief academic officer, Sandusky City Schools, Sandusky, Ohio 
• Barb Santo, executive director of human resources, Dexter Community Schools, Dexter, Mich.
• Amy Shattuck, federal grants director, Missoula County Public School District 1, Missoula, Mont.
• Lynne M. Sheffield, director of student services and registration, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Moreno Valley, Calif.
• Melissa Theide, assistant superintendent of educational services, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Livermore, Calif.
• Yeu Vang, assistant superintendent, Saint Paul Public Schools, Saint Paul, Minn.
• Renee L. Villareal, director of secondary school instruction and performance, Harford County Public Schools, Bel Air, Md.
• Gyimah I. Whitaker, deputy chief academic officer, Fulton County Schools, Atlanta, Ga.
• Denise A. Wilcox, director of curriculum, Beach Park School District #3, Beach Park, Ill.
• Tiffany Williams, principal, Macon County School System, Tuskegee, Ala.
• Leisa Winston, superintendent, Huntington Beach City School District, Huntington Beach, Calif.
• Lateshia Woodley, assistant superintendent of student support, Kansas City Public Schools, Kansas City, Mo.

Candace Singh, superintendent of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District in Fallbrook, Calif., and retired superintendent Suzette Lovely, most recently with Carlsbad Unified School District in Carlsbad, Calif., serve as co-leads of the program. The graduation ceremony was held on Saturday, Sept. 18, capping a three-day academy meeting in San Diego.

For more information about the academy, visit the AASA website or contact Valerie Truesdale, AASA assistant executive director, at vtruesdale@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.