Educators Honored for AASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academy® Blended Learning Model at National Conference on Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

San Diego, Calif. – Feb. 16, 2024 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the 2024 class of educators to graduate from its Aspiring Superintendents Academy Blended Learning Model®. The announcement was made at the organization’s National Conference on Education in San Diego, Calif.

The program is a combination of opportunities to master the various leadership qualities superintendents must have to excel on the job. Through real-world, situational leadership tasks, participants work collaboratively to prepare themselves to become the future leaders of school districts across the country.

“Through our professional learning programs such as this one, we are widening the pipeline of aspiring educators who are working to reach the top rung of school system leadership.”

“Congratulations to our Aspiring Superintendents Academy® Blended Learning Model graduates,” said David R. Schuler, AASA executive director. “Through our professional learning programs such as this one, we are widening the pipeline of aspiring educators who are working to reach the top rung of school system leadership. Participants have been able to build a professional network of colleagues they can collaborate with and learn from for the rest of their careers.”   

The 2024 AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy Blended Learning Model® cohort graduates are:

• Claudia Belton Avery, deputy superintendent of academics, Fairfield County School District, Winnsboro, S.C.
• Jake Bacon, assistant superintendent, Hermiston School District, Hermiston, Ore.
• Jeremy Batchelor, superintendent, Youngstown City School District, Youngstown, Ohio
• Michael Brown, principal, Carroll County Public Schools, Westminster, Md.
• Shannon Ellis, executive director, Henry County School District, McDonough, Ga.
• Michael Finley, chief of staff, New Haven Public School District, New Haven, Conn.
• Erwin Garcia, assistant superintendent, Houston Independent School District, Houston, Texas
• Nicole Harvey, director, K-12 Teaching & Learning, Avon Grove School District, West Grove, Pa.
• Kenneth Henry, Jr., assistant superintendent, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Houston, Texas
• Todd Irving, principal, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Richmond, Calif.
• Solomon Jefferson, principal, director of middle schools, Richmond City School District, Richmond, Va.
• Ryan Kettler, principal, Rio Rancho Public School District, Rio Rancho, N.M.
• Ryan Pletnick, director, student services, Cave Creek Unified School District, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Geovanny Ponce, assistant superintendent, Houston Independent School District, Houston, Texas
• Khadeejah Smith, head of lower and upper school, Reid Temple Christian Academy, Glenn Dale, Md.
• Todd Veland, director, school improvement, Bulloch County School District, Statesboro, Ga.

For more information about AASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academy® Blended Learning Model, visit the AASA website or contact Mort Sherman, AASA senior associate executive director, Leadership Network, at msherman@aasa.org.

Regarded as the most comprehensive professional learning and networking event for school superintendents and administrators, AASA’s National Conference on Education addresses the most critical issues affecting public education today, including Live Well. Lead Well. — health and well-being and self-care; redesigning learning; school environment and culture; school safety, finances and operations; and transformational learning and leading.

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.