Educators Recognized for Completing AASA’s Urban Superintendents Academy Programs at National Conference on Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

San Diego, Calif. – Feb. 16, 2024 – With the ongoing commitment to increase the number of effective school district leaders in America’s urban communities, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the names of the outstanding educators who have completed the organization’s Urban Superintendents Academy programs. The announcement was made at the organization’s 2024 National Conference on Education in San Diego, Calif.

AASA’s partnerships with Howard University and the University of Southern California were created to bolster the effectiveness of school district leadership in our nation’s urban areas. The academy offers a dynamic approach to urban superintendent preparation and certification.

“The next generation of superintendents should fill all of us with hope and inspiration. I can’t wait to witness and support the myriad of ways they will benefit our schools and kids, particularly those in urban areas.”

“Being an urban leader is not an easy task. Our public school students deserve future-driven, enthusiastic, talented and representative leadership and that’s why AASA’s Urban Academy is mission critical,” said David R. Schuler, executive director AASA. “Congratulations to the 2024 graduates who have successfully completed our Howard University and University of Southern California programs. The next generation of superintendents should fill all of us with hope and inspiration. I can’t wait to witness and support the myriad of ways they will benefit our schools and kids, particularly those in urban areas.”

The Urban Superintendents Academy is recognized as one of the premier programs in the country for urban leadership development. Drawing on the 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 2024 cohort graduates are:

• Ethan Ake-Little, director of human resources, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, Wallingford, Pa.
• Wafa Alnasser, doctoral student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Dara Atandare, deputy chief of special education, Racine Unified School District, Racine, Wis.
• Dwayne Barnes, doctoral student in educational leadership and policy studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Shuanta Broadway, area director, Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Kiona Byrd, doctoral student in educational leadership and policy studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Judith Campbell, deputy superintendent, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, Kansas City, Kan.
• Tamra Collins, superintendent, New York City Department of Education, New York, N.Y.
• Loraine Conley, director of data and assessment, Maricopa Unified School District, Maricopa, Ariz.,
• Jermaine Dawson, chief academic officer, Birmingham City Schools, Birmingham, Ala.
• Chendra Dupree, principal, Bibb County School District, Macon, Ga.
• Leondus Farrow, Jr., assistant superintendent of student support services and operations, Nash County Public Schools, Nashville, N.C.
• Camilla Ferebee, coordinator data analysis and support, Portsmouth Public Schools, Portsmouth, Va.
• Howard Fields, assistant superintendent, Kirkwood School District R7, Kirkwood, Mo.
• Desmond Goodloe, doctoral student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Simone Griffin, director of research, accountability and data, Evanston-Skokie School District 65, Evanston, Ill.
• Corey Grubbs, chief of transformation and leadership, Columbus City School District, Columbus, Ohio
• Christopher Harris, superintendent, Warren County School System, Thomson, Ga.
• Robin Harris, chief outreach officer, Allentown School District, Allentown, Pa.
• Ennis Harvey, associate superintendent, Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison, Wis.
• Howard Harvey, school support officer, Guildford County School District, Greensboro, N.C.
• Roberta Heyward, executive director, middle/K-8 education, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, Mich. 
• Patrick Jenkins, superintendent, St. Landry Parish School District, Opelousas, La.
• Cleveland Johnson, assistant superintendent, teaching and learning, Bibb County School District, Macon, Ga.
• Maria Johnson, assistant superintendent, division of instructional services, Dothan City Schools, Dothan, Ala.
• Nicoisa Jones, doctoral Student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Melanie Kay-Wyatt, chief of human resources, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Barbara Lashley, chief of literacy, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Baton Rouge, La.
• Carlos Lopez, assistant superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools, Ypsilanti, Mich.
• Katika Lovett, chief of staff, deputy superintendent, Bibb County School District, Macon, Ga.
• Thomas McBryde, Jr., superintendent, Hackensack Public Schools, Hackensack, N.J.
• Danielle Miles, director of schools, School District of the City of York, York, Pa.
• Adrienne Morrow, executive director, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore, Md.
• Amber Owens, doctoral students, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Leanna Pearson, doctoral students, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Cheryl Proctor, chief academic officer, Portland Public Schools, Portland, Ore.
• Melissa Russell, principal, Green Dot Public Schools, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Ryan Scallon, assistant superintendent, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Jamar Scott, chief equity and social improvement officer, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, Ill.
• Carlettra Stanford, associate superintendent of elementary schools, Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison, Wis.
• Khalid Sutton, assistant superintendent, Chester Upland School District, Chester, Pa.
• Wualanda Thenstead, principal, Charles County Public Schools, La Plata, Md.
• Shaina Thomas, doctoral student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Marva Tutt, director of student services, Danville Public Schools, Danville, Va.
• Tommy Usher, associate superintendent, Atlanta City Public Schools, Atlanta, Ga.
• Sean Walker, doctoral student, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Ahmed White, executive director, Smithson Craighead Academy, Madison, Tenn.
• Norris Williams, principal, Clover School District, Clover, S.C.
• Sandy Womack, area superintendent, Columbus City School District, Columbus, Ohio
• Alena Zachery-Ross, superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools, Ypsilanti, Mich.

The AASA/USC Urban Superintendents Academy® 2024 cohort graduates are:

• Erica Avila, assistant superintendent, teaching and learning, Isaac Elementary School District 5, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Rickie Dhillon, chief business official, chief operating officer, Kepler Neighborhood School, Fresno, Calif.
• Tasha Doizan, assistant superintendent, academic services, Adelanto Elementary School District, Adelanto, Calif.
• Rick Ferrell, director of student services, Northshore School District 417, Bothell, Wash.
• Rosa Guerra, director, Garvey School District, Rosemead, Calif.
• Lisa Hafer, director of special services, Rapid City Area Schools, Rapid City, S.D.
• Rodney Jordan, principal, Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, Ga.
• Michael Krause, assistant superintendent, Adelanto School District, Adelanto, Calif.
• Joshua Lightle, superintendent, Eastside Union School District, Lancaster, Calif.
• Keith McGee, deputy superintendent, Little Rock School District, Little Rock, Ark.
• Ryan Most, director of virtual learning and special programs, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, Kansas City, Kan.
• Lorraine Perez, deputy superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, Calif.
• Lena Richter, assistant superintendent, educational services, San Marino Unified School District, Marino, Calif.
• Theodore Robison, director, secondary education, Thompson School District, Loveland, Colo.
• Jason Sample, deputy superintendent, Gateway Community Charters, McClellan Park, Calif.
• Josha Talison, superintendent, Ecorse Public Schools, Ecorse, Mich.
• Marco Taylor, director of equity, Dublin Unified School District, Dublin, Calif.
• Linda de la Torre, superintendent, San Marino Unified School District, San Marino, Calif.

For more information about the AASA Urban Superintendents Academy, visit the AASA website. For questions, 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, visit 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.