If asked, most people couldn’t name their local superintendent of schools, and wouldn’t try to. Responsible for their state’s K-12 schools, it’s a job that typically only draws attention when things go wrong: sliding test scores, teacher strikes, or, God forbid, a school shooting.
At their best, however, state superintendents are quiet fixers and behind-the-scenes builders, particularly important for Black students. They drive higher student achievement, increase school enrollment, and increase the number of high school graduates headed to college.
Who Are the Finalists for the 2026 Superintendent of the Year Award?
This year, four nominees for Superintendent of the Year — three of whom are Black — are getting well-earned recognition. The accolade recognizes exceptional school district leaders for outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing public education. It is sponsored by the School Superintendents Association — formerly the AASA —, Corebridge Financial, and Sourcewell.
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“These extraordinary leaders embody the transformative power of public education,” David R. Schuler, executive director of The School Superintendents Association, also known as the AASA, said in a statement. The organization sponsors the award.
The “visionary leadership” of the nominees, he said, “uplifts students and demonstrates our continued commitment to providing every child with the opportunities, experiences, and education that prepares them for college, career, and real life in the real world. We are honored to celebrate their incredible success and accomplishments.”
The honorees are Dr. Demetrus Liggins of Kentucky; Roosevelt Nivens, who works in Texas; Maine’s Heather Perry and Sonja Santelises of the Baltimore City Schools in Maryland.
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Dr. Demetrius Liggins
Fayette County, Kentucky, Public Schools
Liggins, who is Black, has been an educator for 25 years, teaching in California, Texas, and Kentucky, according to the AASA. As superintendent of the Fayette County, Kentucky, Public Schools, Liggins implemented A New Way Forward, the school district’s bold strategic plan focused on equity, access, and student outcomes. Under this initiative, not a single one of his public school’s were identified for low performance among Black, Latino, or economically disadvantaged students.
Roosevelt Nivens
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Texas
A veteran educator of 30 years, Nivens has served as the superintendent of the LCISD since 2021. He leads 49,000 students across 58 campuses. Under his leadership, the district passed a historic $1.5 billion bond.
Nivens started his career as a teacher in Dallas, where he advanced from assistant principal to superintendent. In 2019, he was named the Region 10 Superintendent of the Year and the National Alliance of Black School Educators Superintendent of the Year. In 2022, he was named the Latino Serving Superintendent of the Year.
Heather Perry
Gorham, Maine, School Department
For the past decades, Perry has served as the superintendent of schools for the Gorham School Department, about 20 minutes from Portland, Maine. The school system serves 2,800 students in Cumberland County. Perry started her career as an educational technician and advanced to the position of superintendent. She is also a mentor for the AASA’s spiring Superintendents Academy and is a regular blogger for the organization.
Sonja Santelises
Baltimore City Public Schools
In her 10th year as CEO of BCPS, Santelises is the school district’s longest-serving leader in more than 79 years. Under her leadership, she has increased student enrollment amid a nationwide trend of declines. Santelises’ district posted the nation’s second-largest growth in reading scores among large urban school districts since 2022. BCPS is one of only five urban districts that performed better in reading than before the COVID-19 pandemic. ELA scores also improved under her leadership and City School students consistently outperform the state in kindergarten readiness.
Each of the finalists was nominated by their state association and honored as State Superintendent of the Year, according to The School Superintendents Association. They were then measured against four criteria: Leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.
The winner of the award will be announced live during the Association’s national conference in education between Feb. 12-14 in Nashville, Tenn.