The ConVal School District and School Board proudly announce that Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders has been named a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Rizzo Saunders was one of four finalists announced by AASA on Monday, Dec. 18. Other finalists are:
- Joe Gothard, Saint Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, Minn.
- Martha Salazar-Zamora, Tomball Independent School District, Tomball, Texas
- Frederick Williams, Dublin City Schools, Dublin, Ga.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by AASA,” Dr. Rizzo Saunders said. “The work our District does every day could not be successful without a supportive School Board, a caring and compassionate community, and staff, colleagues, and peers who have dedicated themselves to excellence every day. Our children are afforded every chance to succeed in school and life because of these supports.”
Conval School Board Chair Richard Dunning shared, “The School Board is proud of the work that Dr. Rizzo Saunders has done on behalf of the District and is pleased to see this work recognized at the national level.”
The Superintendent of the Year award is co-sponsored by AASA, Corebridge Financial (formerly known as AIG Life & Retirement) and First Student. The winner will be announced during AASA’s National Conference on Education, Feb. 15, 2024, in San Diego, Calif.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
