Finalists Named for AASA’s 2024 National Superintendent of the Year®

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

Honorees include superintendents from Georgia, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Texas

Alexandria, Va. – December 18, 2023 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year®. This distinction honors school system leaders throughout the country who are making a positive difference in the lives of the students they serve in addition to ensuring the safety and wellness of their school communities.

Co-sponsored by AASA, Corebridge Financial (formerly known as AIG Life & Retirement) and First Student, the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year® will be announced during AASA’s National Conference on Education, Feb. 15, 2024, in San Diego, Calif.

The four finalists for the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year® are:

• Joe Gothard, Saint Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, Minn.
• Martha Salazar-Zamora, Tomball Independent School District, Tomball, Texas
• Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, Contoocook Valley School District, Peterborough, N.H.
• Frederick Williams, Dublin City Schools, Dublin, Ga.

“Congratulations to the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year® finalists. The leadership and steadfast commitment these individuals have shown to their students, staff and local communities is nothing short of inspirational. Their vision and inclination for action will have a lasting impact on the future of countless young adults and our country,” said Terri Fiedler, president of retirement services, Corebridge Financial. “Corebridge is proud to support AASA and this program in recognition of the positive learning environments that educational leaders are creating and cultivating in school districts across the U.S.”

“The leadership and steadfast commitment these individuals have shown to their students, staff and local communities is nothing short of inspirational.”

“These four superintendents are transforming the lives of the students they serve in order to build better futures for all of us,” said John Kenning, CEO and president, First Student. “As a partner to school districts across North America, providing unmatched care and the safest ride to school, First Student is proud to join AASA in celebrating the impressive contributions our National Superintendent of the Year® finalists are making to bolster public education in their communities. First Student is pleased to join AASA as we salute these outstanding educators.”

“These four superintendents are transforming the lives of the students they serve in order to build better futures for all of us.”

“It is an honor to congratulate these four innovative and future-driven superintendents who are setting the bar for what high-quality leadership is all about,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “Our honorees took their respective school districts and their entire school communities to higher heights of excellence. They are prime examples of what it means to be a superintendent in today’s post-COVID world. We are grateful to Corebridge Financial and First Student for supporting our program.”

“It is an honor to congratulate these four innovative and future-driven superintendents who are setting the bar for what high-quality leadership is all about.”

The National Superintendent of the Year® finalists will have an opportunity to meet the national education community during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The briefing will begin at 3p.m. (ET).

The National Superintendent of the Year® program, now in its 37^th year, is open to all U.S. superintendents who plan to continue in the profession. The program also honors international school superintendents. The applicants were measured against the following criteria:

• Leadership for learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in the school system
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team
• Community involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national and international issues

A $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year® to a student in the high school from which the superintendent graduated or the school now serving the same area.

For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Rooney, AASA senior director, meetings and awards, at jrooney@aasa.org.

Click here to access a list of the AASA 2024 State Superintendents of the Year.

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About Corebridge Financial
Corebridge Financial, Inc. (NYSE: CRBG) makes it possible for more people to take action in their financial lives. With more than $360 billion in assets under management and administration as of Sept. 30, 2023, Corebridge Financial is one of the largest providers of retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. We proudly partner with financial professionals and institutions to help individuals plan, save for and achieve secure financial futures. For more information, visit corebridgefinancial.com and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About First Student
First Student is the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America. With a team of highly trained drivers, the industry’s strongest safety record and a fleet of nearly 47,000 vehicles, First Student provides the best start and finish to every school day. First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation, fleet electrification, special needs transportation, route optimization, scheduling, maintenance and charter services. For more information, please visit www.firststudentinc.com.

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.