Two Champions of Education Equity Will Receive AASA Humanitarian Award

lwade@aasa.org

Alexandria, Va. – January 17, 2025 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award, an annual recognition of education leaders committed to the advancement and mentorship of women and people of color, and/or addressing social justice issues among children and adults in schools.

The 2025 honorees were selected for this award because they exemplify the qualities modeled by the late Dr. Effie Hall Jones, a school administrator, teacher, counselor and former AASA associate executive director.

The 2025 recipients are:

• Nettie Collins-Hart, superintendent, Hazelwood School District, Florissant, Mo.   
• Alexandra Estrella, superintendent, Norwalk Public Schools, Norwalk, Conn.

“These two outstanding individuals continue to break down barriers and build bridges to ensure that the field of educational leadership is richer and more accessible to a wide range of qualified educators – we honor and congratulate them,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “Dr. Jones, a trailblazer throughout her illustrious career, would have been proud of their unselfish devotion to the students they serve and the communities in which they live.”

Collins-Hart and Estrella will receive their awards during the general session on the first day of AASA’s 2025 National Conference on Education, which takes place March 6-8, in New Orleans, LA. On day two, the awardees will be honored at the Dr. Effie Hall Jones Memorial Equity Luncheon, which is co-hosted by AASA, the National Alliance for Black School Educators (NABSE) and the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), and sponsored by the Institute for Educational Innovation.

These two outstanding individuals continue to break down barriers and build bridges to ensure that the field of educational leadership is richer and more accessible to a wide range of qualified educators

About the Honorees

Nettie Collins-Hart
Collins-Hart became the superintendent of the Hazelwood School District in 2016 and has created academic acceleration models in five thematic schools, led the opening of a school-based health center, facilitated the development and implementation of the Hazelwood NOW Strategic Plan, expanded early childhood education opportunities districtwide, balanced the $250M budget and successfully advocated for compensation increases across all employee groups. Her current efforts include collaborating with state agencies and local organizations to design and implement equity measures for school districts statewide. Collins-Hart was a teacher for nine years and also has experience as an assistant principal, principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and college professor. During her tenure, graduating seniors in Hazelwood earned more than $188M in scholarships and volunteered over 200,000 community service hours. Hazelwood School District supports 2,950 staff who serve over 16,000 students representing over 60 countries and nearly 40 languages in North St. Louis County, Missouri.

Alexandra Estrella
Estrella is a first-generation Latina-American with more than 27 years of experience in education. As Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools, she championed educational equity, created opportunities for students and fostered diverse leadership. As an advocate for systemic change, Estrella is committed to eliminating barriers that limit student potential. Her leadership focuses on addressing disproportionalities in data and embedding equity, excellence, and inclusion across the district. In 2021, she introduced the role of Deputy Superintendent of Excellence, Equity, and Inclusion to drive these efforts. Under her guidance, the district has implemented multi-year professional learning workshops for the School Board, administrators, and staff to advance equity and inclusion. Through mentorship and advocacy, she uplifts diverse voices, modeling equity and excellence for future leaders. Her work is grounded in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams, and her passion for equity reflects both a professional commitment and a personal mission.

For additional information about the Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award, contact Bryan Joffe at bjoffe@aasa.org or visit the AASA website.

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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.