The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) announces the winners of its 2022-2023 Leadership Awards. The awards program honored 17 individuals for their extraordinary education advocacy and leadership. The recipients were announced during a special awards gala following the 19th Annual National ALAS Education Summit held recently in Puerto Rico.
The 2022-2023 honorees are:
ALAS Awards
ALAS 2022 Trailblazer Award – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine
ALAS 2022 Estrella Award – Illinois Senator Karina Villa
ALAS 2022 Friends of ALAS Award – Anthony Kim, CEO of Education Elements
Lifetime Achievement Award – Kathy Hurley, Consultant
Community Partner Award- UnidosUS
Latino Equity Champion Award – Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York
Leader of Inspiration Award – Carlos Cobian, Entrepreneur and CEO of Cobian Media
Legend Award – Panfilo Contreras, Executive Director of AZ-ALAS
ALAS National Superintendent of the Year Award – Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools, CT
Latino Serving Superintendent of the Year
- PAST- Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, Superintendent, Lamar CISD, TX
- PRESENT- Dr. Calvin Watts, Superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA
Latino Assistant Superintendent of the Year – Dr. Ruth Pérez, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Riverside County Office of Education, CA
Latino Serving Assistant Superintendent of the Year – Dr. Tommy Welch, Head of Culture and Community, the Lovett School, GA
Latino Central Office Administrator of the Year – Araceli Medina, Director of Multilingual Services, Valley View School District 365U, IL
Latino Serving Central Office Administrator of the Year – Dan Swartz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Skokie School District 73.5, IL
Latino Technology Champion of the Year – Sophia Mendoza, Instructional Technology Initiative Director, LAUSD, CA
Latino National Principal of the Year – Carmen Vargas, Principal, Uriah Hill Elementary School, Peekskill City School District, NY
Latino Administrator of the Year – Dr. James Martinez, Education Administrator for Counseling and Social Services, Norwalk Public Schools, CT.
“Our 2022-2023 award honorees exemplify strong, mission-driven leadership, and their support and advocacy for Latino and historically marginalized youth is truly inspiring,” said ALAS Executive Director Dr. Maria Armstrong. “We were thrilled to be able to celebrate and recognize these amazing individuals at our Annual Summit for the important work they are doing in their schools, districts, and communities.”
For more information about ALAS visit https://www.alasedu.org/.
About the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS)
The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents [ALAS] is committed to providing a perspective to all aspiring school and district administrators including superintendents through programs, services, advocacy and networks rooted in Latino experiences and culture. ALAS has nearly 8,000 members across 18 state affiliates with several more states soon to be a part of the ALAS Familia. Our Vision, Mission and Goals are to provide leadership at the national level that assures every school in America effectively serves the educational needs of all students with an emphasis on Latino and other historically marginalized youth through continuous professional learning, policy advocacy, and networking to share practices of promise for our students and the communities where we serve.
By the year 2026, Latino children will make up 30 percent of the school-age population. In the nation’s largest states – California, Texas, Florida, and New York- all of whom are ALAS State Affiliates– Latinos already have reached that level. It is of vital interest to invest in the education of every child, and the professional learning of all educators who serve Latino youth.
