Sponsored by ProQuest
Monetary Amount: $2,000
Deadline: February 1
APPLY NOW
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Overview
The Distinguished School Administrator Award honors a school administrator who has made worthy contributions to the operations of an exemplary school library and to advancing the role of the school library in the educational program.
The purpose of the AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award is:
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To honor those administrators outside the library profession who through individual leadership and sustained effort have made worthy contributions to the operations of effective school library services and to advancing the role of the school library services in the educational program.
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To recognize the responsible and influential role of those administrators outside the school library department in developing successful school library programs.
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To stimulate planning, implementing and support of the library services which are essential to a meaningful educational program.
Eligibility
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State, county or district school superintendents and building principals, currently in administrative office, directly responsible for a school or group of schools at any level, who is not working in a library services department and who is not a regular ALA/AASL member are eligible for nomination.
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District administrators responsible for broad instructional leadership such as assistant superintendents, directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of elementary and/or secondary education are also eligible provided they are not working in a library services department or a regular ALA/AASL member.
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Nominations must be made by personal member of AASL.
Criteria
The following criteria will be used in the selection process:
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Administrative leadership and continuing efforts in promoting effective school library services and advancing the role of school library services in the educational program.
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Nominee’s personal philosophy/statement related to the school library program’s role in the educational program.
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Demonstrated support for library resources and staff as presented in the description of the community (consider moral support as well as financial resources for staff and “things”, including access to information).
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Evidence of school library program improvements as compared with program when nominee began and today.
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Statement of current commitments and future plans for school library services and programs.
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How the nominee is rated in comparison with other award nominees.
Download Criteria & Rating Sheets 
* Please note: This downloadable version is for informational purposes only. All applications must be submitted online, via the Apply Now button that will appear at the top of the page when the next award season opens in early September.
Questions
Allison Cline 
Deputy Executive Director
Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Affiliation |
| 2023 | No Recipient | |
| 2022 | Tim Salem | Scotts Ridge Middle School Principal Ridgefield, Connecticut |
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"As the Principal of a middle school where our library is truly the learning hub of our entire building, it is an absolute honor to accept this prestigious honor," said Tim Salem. "I do so with the knowledge that this award is reflective of the awesome collaboration that exists between all members of our educational community to make our LLC the very special place that it is!" | |
| 2021 | Dr. April Grace | Shawnee (Oklahoma) Public Schools |
| 2020 | Dr. Kevin Smith | Wilton (Connecticut) Public Schools Superintendent |
| 2019 | Shirley Simmons | Norman (Oklahoma) Public Schools |
| 2018 | Michael Daria | Tuscaloosa (Alabama) City Schools Superintendent |
| 2017 | Warren Drake | Superintendent of Schools East Baton Rouge Parish (Louisiana) School System |
| 2016 | Kathleen Procopio | Millville (New Jersey) High School Principal |
| 2015 | Lenny Santamaria | Myra S. Barnes Intermediate School 24 Principal Staten Island, New York |
| 2014 | Dr. Arturo Cavazos | Harlingen (Texas) CISD Superintendent |
| 2013 | Scott Bacon | Blue Valley High School Principal Stilwell, Kansas |
| 2012 | Mat McRae | Swan Valley High School Principal Saginaw, Michigan |
| 2011 | Donna Haye | District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Atlantic City (New Jersey) Board of Education |
| 2010 | Vince Barnes | North Elementary School Principal Noblesville, Indiana |
| 2009 | Melanie Goffen Horowitz | Central Elementary School Principal Wilmette, Illinois |
| 2008 | No Recipient | |
| 2007 | Nathan S. Greenberg | Superintendent of Schools, Londonderry (New Hampshire) School District |
| 2006 | Kay McBride | Library Specialist, Pasadena (Texas) ISD |
| 2005 | Michael Hart | Holy Rosary School Principal Tacoma, Washington |
| 2004 | Dr. William Harner | Superintendent, Greenville (South Carolina) County School District |
| 2003 | Barbara E. De Spain | Lois Lenski Elementary School Principal Centennial, Colorado |
| 2002 | Dr. William Meuer | Norwood Park School Chicago, Illinois |
| 2001 | Dr. Kathleen D. Smith | Cherry Creek High School Englewood, Colorado |
| 2000 | Dr. Elaine Armani | Associate Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Waukegan (Illinois) Community School District |
| 1999 | Eugene Sudol | Wayne Hills High School Principal Wayne, New Jersey |
| 1998 | Brian Fagan | Assistant Superintendent, Fairfield (Connecticut) Public Schools |
| 1997 | Donald V. DeLong | Superintendent, Merced (California) City School District |
| 1996 | Faye Kimsey | Lakeside Elementary School Principal Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| 1995 | No Recipient | |
| 1994 | James C. Enochs | Superintendent, Modesto (California) City Schools |
| 1993 | Susan Robinson | Harcourt Elementary School Principal Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 1992 | Thomas L. Gibbs | Assistant Superintendent for Secodary Education, Indian Prairie School District #204 Naperville, Illinois |
| 1991 | Marilyn Blakely | Director of Elementary Education, Vigo County School Corporation Terre Haute, Indiana |
| 1990 | Dr. Richard Doremus | Superintendent, Shoreham-Wading River Central School District Shoreham, New York |
| 1989 | Robert Gross | Superintendent, ISD #181 Brainerd, Minnesota |
| 1988 | Ralph Ricardo | Superintendent, Ascension Parish School District Donaldsville, Louisiana |
| 1987 | Ron Wimmer | Assistant Superintendent, Olathe (Kansas) District Schools |
| 1986 | William H. Phillips | Superintendent, Jordan (New York) Elbridge Central School District |
| 1985 | E. Wayne Harris | Fairfax County School District Alexandria, Virginia |