Atlanta School Leader Beverly Hall Named 2009 National Superintendent of the Year

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beverly Hall, superintendent of Atlanta, Ga., Public Schools has been named the 2009 National Superintendent of the Year. Hall was honored today at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in San Francisco. The National Superintendent of the Year program is co-sponsored by AASA, ARAMARK Education and ING.

“Beverly Hall is an outstanding superintendent whose leadership has turned Atlanta into a model of urban school reform,” said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech. “Throughout her long and successful tenure in Atlanta, Hall has accomplished significant gains in student achievement. She has demonstrated a commitment to setting high standards for students and school personnel, working collaboratively with the school board, and meeting the needs of the local community. AASA is proud to bestow this national honor on Hall.”

“Congratulations to Beverly Hall for representing the ‘best of the best’ in public school leadership,” said Dennis Maple, president, ARAMARK Education. “ARAMARK is honored to be a part this special program that rewards and recognizes a professional like Hall who truly cares about the wellbeing of her students. Also, we salute this year's state winners who so earnestly strive to give every child the ideal learning experience and the greatest chance for success.”

“ING values education and all educators who tirelessly strive to improve student achievement,” said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation. “Congratulations to Beverly Hall for being recognized for her outstanding leadership in ensuring students receive a quality education. ING also acknowledges all superintendents who are advancing education in their districts.”

Hall has been superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, serving 50,000 students, for 10 years, making her one of the longest-serving superintendents of an urban school district. She previously served as state district superintendent of Newark, N.J., Public Schools.

Hall is credited with transforming the 102-school system in Atlanta through a comprehensive reform agenda. Every elementary school in Atlanta made adequate yearly progress in 2008, and graduation rates at several high schools have risen sharply.

Hall worked most of her early career in New York City, where she was a teacher, principal and superintendent of a community school district. She also spent a year as deputy chancellor for instruction in the New York City Public Schools before her appointment to run the Newark, N.J., schools, whose operation was taken over by the state.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and an advanced certificate from Brooklyn College, and her doctoral degree from Fordham University. She won the Richard R. Green award for urban education leadership from the Council of the Great City Schools in 2006.

As the 2009 National Superintendent of the Year honoree, Hall is entitled to present a $10,000 college scholarship to a student at the all-girls high school in Jamaica from which she graduated before emigrating with her family to New York City.

A national blue-ribbon panel selected Hall from four finalists. The other national finalists were: Suzanne Freeman, superintendent of the Trussville, Ala., City Schools; Stu Silberman, superintendent of the Fayette County, Ky., Public Schools; and Gene White, superintendent of the Indianapolis, Ind., Public Schools.

The finalists were measured against the following criteria: leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.

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