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Meet the Nominees for
2025 NASS Excellence Awards

ExceIlence in Communication & Community Engagement

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Heather Higdon

Featured Member Article
Chief Communications Officer
Indian Hill Exempted Village S.D.
Cincinnati, OH
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Nancy Kaufman

Pending
Human Resources/Executive Assistant
Manteno Community Unit S.D.
Manteno, IL 60950
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Terry Connor

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota, FL:
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Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Central Regional School District
Bayville, NJ 08721
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Antwon Sutton

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Chester County S.D.
Chester, SC
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Jeff Horton

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Southwest Metro Intermediate 288
Shakopee, MN
 
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Steven Estepp

Pending
Superintendent
Mariemont City Schools
Cincinnati, OH
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Nurys Uceta Ramos

Pending
Director of Engagement
Forest Park District 91
Forest Park, IL
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Ken Schutten

Pending
Director of Communications
McDonald R1 School District
Anderson, MO 
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Carter Davidson

Pending
Superintendent
Litchfield Elementary S.D. #79
Litchfield Park, AZ
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Michelle Rodriguez

Pending
Superintendent
Stockton Unified School District
Stockton, CA
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Excellence in Finance & Operations

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Paul O'Malley

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Butler School District 53

Oak Brook, IL

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Terry Connor

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Sarasota County Schools

Sarasota, FL

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Excellence as an Influencer

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Matt Davidson

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Timothy Christian Schools

Elmhurst, IL

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Chantelle C. Lewis

Featured Member Article

Principal

Lorain City School District

Lorain, OH

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Glenn Robbins

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Brigantine Public School District

Brigantine, NJ

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Tim Crow

Pending

Communications & PR Liaison

Taylor Independent S.D.

Taylor, TX

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Gearl Loden

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Nixa Public School District

Nixa, MO

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Nathan Schilling

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Lansing School District 158

Lansing, IL

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Excellence in Innovation

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Jordan Cox

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Commack School District
Commack, NY
Innovation:  Financial Literacy
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Diego Ochoa

Pending
Superintendent
San Mateo-Foster City S.D.
Foster City, CA
Innovation: Forward Thinking Programs 
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Mike Beighley

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Whitehall School District
Whitehall, WI
Innovation: Technology Center
 
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Alice Barfield

Pending
Superintendent
Glades County School District
Moore Haven, FL
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Christopher Smith

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Cherry Creek School District
Greenwood Village, CO
Innovation: Inspiring Educator Pathway

 
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Shelley Adams

Pending
Superintendent
Baldy View Regional Occupational Prgm
Ontario, CA
Innovation: Connecting Students to
Industry and Employment

 
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Darryl Hogue

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
River Bend School District
Fulton, IL
Innovation: Real World Experience
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Nicolas Wade

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Columbia Union School District
Columbia, CA
Innovation: Opportunity Hub
 
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Katrise Perera

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Lancaster I.S.D.
Lancaster, TX
Innovation: Inspirational Leadership
 
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Anthony Marinello

Pending
Executive Director
South Cook Intermediate Svc Center
Chicago Heights, IL
 
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Williams Phillip Barry

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Gates County Public Schools
Gatesville, NC
Innovation: Hands-On Stem Experiences

 
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Chris Bohula

Featured Member Article
Director of Instructional Technology
Orland School District
Orland Park, IL
Innovation: Teacher Leadership in Tech

 
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Excellence in Instruction

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Karen Cassady

Pending
Director of Technology

Maurice River Township School District

Port Elizabeth, NJ

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Terry Connor

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Sarasota County Schools

Sarasota, FL

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Antwon Sutton

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Chester County School District

Chester, SC

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Steve Starnes

Pending
Superintendent

Greeneville City Schools

Greeneville, TN

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Andy Schoggin

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Clinton Public School District

Clinton,  MS

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Excellence in Safety & Security

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Martin Schafer

Pending

Chief of Police

Fayette County Public Schools

Lexington, KY

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Yaw Obeng

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Hickman Mills C-1 School District

Kansas City, MO 64137

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Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Central Regional School District
Bayville, NJ 08721

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Michael Volpe

Featured Member Article
Superintendent

Hillsborough Township District

Hillsborough, NJ

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Carmen Balgobin

Featured Member Article
Superintendent
Volusia County Schools
DeLand, FL

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John Bryk

Pending
Superintendent
Orland School District 135
Orland Park, IL

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Excellence in Technology & AI

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Nathan Fisher

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Roselle Public Schools

Roselle, NJ

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Jonathan Cooper

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Mason City Schools

Mason, OH

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Mike Beighley

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Whitehall School District

Whitehall, WI

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Carmen Balgobin

Featured Member Article

Superintendent

Volusia County Schools

DeLand FL

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Aspiring Superintendent

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Julio Nazario-Valle

Featured Member Article

Chief Academic Officer

Volusia County Schools

DeLand, FL

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Sonia R. Llamas

Featured Member Article

Associate Superintendent of Ed Services

Orange County Office of Education

Costa Mesa, CA

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