NASS Announces Five Candidates For Superintendent Of The Year

Online, June 9, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) has named finalists from across the country for its 2011 National Superintendent of the Year award.
They include Linda Chapman of Estes Park, Colorado; Scott Mercer of Boiling Springs, South Carolina; Reza Namin of Westbrook, Maine; Walter Lee of Mansfield, Louisiana and Mike Richie of Eagle River, Wisconsin.
The decision was announced Thursday, June 8, at the NASS offices in Newport Beach, California. The selection of a National Superintendent of the Year is based on three primary criteria:

* Outstanding achievement as a school district superintendent,
* Demonstrated belief in continuous improvement, and
* Commitment to collaboration and mutual support in the profession.

NASS Executive Director Dr. Theresa Daem said she is delighted to announce such an amazing field. According to Daem, "It is clear that our country's educational system faces tremendous challenges and is in need of the dynamic and continuously improving leadership these five people represent." She added, "There simply is not one simple 'fix' for education. The real answer is recognizing and leveraging the collective know-how of stellar district leaders like these. NASS was launched to make this happen."
Dramatically increasing student test scores by focusing on accountability and using data driven decision-making, building a myriad of district partnerships with community businesses and organizations, and passing the largest operational referendum in the state of Wisconsin for $8,700,000 are all attributed to Richie's leadership.
Namin has developed a comprehensive strategic plan entitled Vision 2013 to guide his district's improvement efforts, used individualization to significantly reduce high school drop-out rates, and initiated his district's first virtual high school courses.
Long-time superintendent Walter Lee is known for implementing a transition to a student non-failure system and establishing DeSoto as the only district in Louisiana to have every school participating in the national "Teacher Advancement Program (TAP). The non-failure system replaces retention with grade level transition classes where student are provided targeted support to get them back on track. TAP addresses much of the national reform movement effort with value added assessment and pay for performance. Lee is also a publically elected member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Chapman's many achievements include the development of a Personal Learning Plan and Portfolio for every student in the district, a successful home-school/public collaborative program, an employee incentive program designed to retain positions in the current fiscal climate and a self-funded community education program.
Mercer has established a Gateway to College Program with his district's community college to prevent dropouts and a Scholars Academy that is a four-year partnership with the University of Carolina Upstate, and has a record of continuously improving graduation rates.
"We are very proud to have these proven leaders as active members, and we are anticipating many valuable contributions to the profession," Daem said.
The National Association of School Superintendents serves the unique needs of the more than 17,000 school district leaders across the United States by providing them with ongoing opportunities for collaborating and sharing as well as building a collection of resources and benefits. Its website address is NASS.us .

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If you would like more information about the topic, or to schedule an interview with Theresa Daem, please send an email to theresa@nass.us .