Meet the Nominees for
2026 NASS Excellence Awards
ExceIlence in Communication & Community Engagement
Tiffany Brunson
Superintendent
ESD 159
Matteson, IL
Kenneth Spells
Superintendent
Hoke County Schools
Raeford, NC
Excellence in Innovative Initiative
Christopher Smith
Superintendent
Cherry Creek Schools
Denver, CO
Tom Burton
Executive Director
High AIMS
Sharonville, OH
Kenneth R. Hamilton
Superintendent
Edgemont Union Free S.D.
Scarsdale, NY
Jonathan Hinke
Executive Director, Strategic Initiative
Putnam County School District
Palatka, FL
Leslie Haack
Deputy Superintendent
Katy Independent School District
Katy, TX
Kirk Sykes
Superintendent
Seed School of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Sarah Calveric
Superintendent
Caroline County Public Schools
Bowling Green, VA
Technology & AI
Power Leadership <2500
Adam Ehrman
Superintendent
Bourbonnais Elementary S.D. 53
Bourbonnais, IL
John Hannah
Superintendent
Morton School District
Morton, WA
Cynthia Levy
Superintendent
Hazel Crest School District 152.5
East Hazelcrest, IL
Sheila Schlafmann
Superintendent
Turtle Lake-Mercer Public School
Turtle Lake, ND
Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder
Superintendent
Central Regional School District
Bayville, NJ
Alice Barfield
Superintendent
Glades County
Moore Haven, FL
Tonya Lowry
Superintendent
Uplift Michigan Online School
Stephenson, MI
Reza Namin
Superintendent
Maine Indian Education
Indian Island, ME
Billy Kirk
Superintendent
Commerce City Schools
Commerce, GA
Power Leadership >2500
Excellence in Safety & Security
Michael Dadey
Safety Director
Greater Johnstown School District
Johnstown, PA
Excellence in Finesse & Agility
Pending
Superintendent
Pending School District
Pending