[StBernard] Four Finalists Selected for AASA 2008 National Superintendent of the Year Program

[Westley Annis]

Four Finalists Selected for AASA 2008 National Superintendent of the Year
Program
December 21, 2007

Contact:
Amy Vogt
Communications and Media Relations Manager
703-875-0723
avogt at aasa.org


ARLINGTON, Va. - The American Association of School Administrators has
announced four finalists in the 2008 National Superintendent of the Year
program. The program, co-sponsored by ARAMARK and now in its 21st year,
celebrates the contributions and leadership of public school
superintendents. AASA will announce the 2008 National Superintendent of the
Year on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at AASA's National Conference on Education in
Tampa, Fla.

The four finalists for 2008 National Superintendent of the Year are: Rudolph
Crew, superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami, Fla.;
Paul Johnson, superintendent of the of Bismarck, N.D., Public Schools; James
Phares, superintendent of the Marion County Schools in  Fairmont, W.V.; and
Doris Voitier, superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools in
Chalmette, La.

"The finalists in the National Superintendent of the Year program represent
public education's outstanding leaders from around the country," said AASA
Executive Director Paul D. Houston. "AASA is pleased to shine the spotlight
on these exemplary administrators."

"ARAMARK is proud to continue the support of this extraordinary program in
its 21st year," said Dennis Maple, president, ARAMARK Education.
"Congratulations to all the superintendents for their commitment and focus
on creating a positive learning environment for today's youth to continue to
elevate student achievement."

Crew has been superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, which
serves more than 350,000 students, since 2004. He previously served as
chancellor of the New York City Public Schools. He received his bachelor's
degree from Babson College and his master's and doctoral degrees from the
University of Massachusetts.

Johnson has been superintendent of the Bismarck Public Schools, serving
10,650 students, since 2001. He previously served as principal of the South
St. Paul, Minn., School District and as superintendent of the Valley City
Public Schools in North Dakota. He received his bachelor's degree from Minot
State University, his master's degree from North Dakota State University,
and his doctoral degree from the University of North Dakota.

Phares has been superintendent of the Marion County Schools, serving 8,200
students, since 2003. He previously served as superintendent of the
Pocahontas County Schools in West Virginia. He received his bachelor's
degree from West Virginia University, his master's degree form Lynchburg
College, and his doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Voitier has been superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools,
which serves 4,200 students, since 2004. She previously served as the
district's assistant superintendent. She received her bachelor's and
master's degrees from the University of New Orleans and her certification in
education administration from the University of New Orleans/Loyola
University.

The four national finalists were chosen from 50 Superintendent of the Year
finalists. The finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., in January to be
interviewed by a national blue-ribbon selection panel of educators,
businesspeople and government officials. AASA will announce the 2008
National Superintendent of the Year on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at AASA's
National Conference on Education in Tampa, Fla.

The annual program is open to all U.S. public school superintendents as well
as superintendents of American schools abroad and Department of Defense
Education Activity School superintendents who plan to continue in the
profession.
The applicants were measured against the following criteria:

Leadership for learning - creativity in successfully meeting the needs of
students in the school system. 
Communication - strength in both personal and organizational communication. 
Professionalism - constant improvement of administrative knowledge and
skills, while providing professional development opportunities and
motivation to others on the education team. 
Community involvement - active participation in local community activities
and an understanding of regional, national and international issues. 
A $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the National
Superintendent of the Year to a student in the high school from which the
superintendent graduated, or the school now serving the same area.

The National Superintendent of the Year will receive a jacket emblazoned
with the National Superintendent of the Year emblem and, with the three
other national finalists, will be recognized at the AASA National Conference
on Education during the ceremony announcing the National Superintendent of
the Year.

The 50 state-level and overseas winners be honored as a group at the AASA
National Conference on Education. They will also be invited to participate
in the AASA State Superintendents of the Year Forum in October 2008. The
three-day forum will provide an opportunity for leaders to gather and
discuss pertinent education issues. AASA will publish a white paper
summarizing the discussions from the forum in early 2009. Note: A white
paper from the 2007 forum will be released at the 2008 National Conference
on Education. The white papers from the 2005 and 2006 forums are available
on the AASA website at www.aasa.org/publications.

The state and overseas Superintendents of the Year are:

Betty T. Bagley, Anderson School District 5, Anderson, S.C. 
Richard H. Bauscher, Middleton School District 134, Middleton, Idaho 
Allen B. Bourff, Richmond Community Schools, Richmond, Ind. 
Linda Byrnes, Arlington School District 16, Arlington, Wash. 
Richard E. Carlson, Klawock City School District, Klawock, Alaska 
Michael R. Cormier, Maine School Administrative District 9, New Sharon,
Maine 
Rudolph F. Crew, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla. 
Roy M. Dalton, Maryville City Schools, Maryville, Tenn. 
Blondean Y. Davis, Matteson Elementary School District 162, Matteson, Ill. 
Anthony S. DeNorchia, Hillsdale Public Schools, Hillsdale, N.J. 
Debra L. Duvall, Mesa Unified School Disrict 4, Mesa, Ariz. 
Larry E. Ewing, Fort Osage R-I School District, Independence, Mo. 
Dan Flores, Santa Rosa Cons School District 8, Santa Rosa, N.M. 
Donald J. Ford, Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Harrisonburg, Va. 
Roel A. Gonzalez, Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District,
Rio Grande City, Texas 
Terry B. Grier, Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C. 
Jacqueline C. Haas, Harford County Public Schools, Bel Air, Md. 
Tommye C. Henderson, Clinton Public School District, Clinton, Miss. 
Vernon M. Henshaw, Alpine School District, American Fork, Utah 
Jerry L. House, Whitefish School District 44, Whitefish, Mont. 
Paul D. Hurst, Tahlequah Public Schools, Tahlequah, Okla. 
Margaret A. Iacovelli, Johnston Public Schoolsf, Johnston, R.I. 
Larry Johnke, Irene-Wakonda School District 13-3, Irene, S.D. 
Judith A. Johnson, Peekskill City School District, Peekskill, N.Y. 
Paul K. Johnson, Bismarck Public Schools, Bismarck, N.D. 
Rudolph F. Karkosak, Kennett Consolidated School District, Kennett Square,
Pa. 
James E. Lentz, Augusta Unified School District 402, Augusta, Kan. 
James R. Lowham, Natrona County School District #1, Casper, Wyo. 
Harlan E. Lyso, Seoul Foreign School, Seoul, Korea 
Thomas G. Maridada, II, Inkster Public Schools, Inkster, Mich. 
Christopher H. Martes, Foxborough Public Schools, Foxborough, Mass. 
Robert A. Mengerink, Kettering City Schools, Kettering, Ohio 
Ann R. Moore, Huntsville City Schools, Huntsville, Ala. 
Ronald J. Naso, North Clackamas School District, Milwaukie, Ore. 
Brenda L. Needham, Windsor School District, Windsor, Vt. 
Carl J. Nelson, School Administrative Unit 9, North Conway, N.H. 
Glenn M. Pelecky, Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, Bettendorf, Iowa 
James B. Phares, Marion County Schools, Fairmont, W.Va. 
Donald A. Phillips, Poway Unified School District, Poway, Calif. 
Larry F. Ramaekers, Aurora Public Schools, Aurora, Neb. 
James R. Rickabaugh, Whitefish Bay School District, Whitefish Bay, Wis. 
Harold Roberts, Rodney District Office, Camden Wyoming, Del. 
William E. Roberts, Nye County School District, Tonopah, Nev. 
Mark A. Robertson, Fridley Independent School District #14, Fridley, Minn. 
Mary E. Rubadeau, Telluride School District R-1, Telluride, Colo. 
Robert R. Saunders, Barrow County Schools, Winder, Ga. 
Andrew Tolbert, Warren School District 1, Warren, Ark. 
Larry D. Vick, Owensboro Independent Schools, Owensboro, Ky. 
Robert M. Villanova, Farmington Public Schools, Farmington, Conn. 
Doris Voitier, St Bernard Parish Schools, Chalmette, La. 
For more information about the National Superintendent of the Year program,
please contact Darlene Pierce at dpierce at aasa.org or 703-875-0736.

About AASA
The American Association of School Administrators, founded in 1865, is the
professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across
America and in many other countries. AASA's mission is to support and
develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest
quality public education for all children. AASA's major focus is standing up
for public education.