Leadership Matters March 2014

IASA News in Brief

Elgin’s Torres named winner of AASA’s Dr. Effie Jones Humanitarian Award

pursue equity and excellence for all students in our school system. We will continue to work hard to remove educational barriers and offer opportunity to learn for all students.” AASA recognized Torres for addressing persistent gaps in achievement by establishing an Office of Equity and Social Justice, the first of its kind in District U46. Other achievements toward equity include Torres’ creation of the Ten Boys mentorship initiative and the Superintendent Scholarship Program, in which Torres donated his own funds to provide financial assistance for students who are the first in their families to attend college. According to AASA, Jones dedicated her career to closing the academic, health and social gap for children, as well as increasing the number of women and minority school system leaders. She was profiled in the film “Women at the Top” for her work with women who aspired to become superintendents. In addition to Torres, 2014 recipients of the Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award include Margaret Grogan, a professor of education in the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif.; and Caroline Hunter, a former chemist and retired school administrator in Cambridge, Mass.

Elgin District U46 Superintendent Dr. José M. Torres was named a recipient of the 2014 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Torres is one of three educators from across the nation

who received the award at the recent AASA National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee. The award honors leadership in educational equity and excellence and was named after the late Effie Hall Jones, an educator and AASA associate executive director, and a champion of women and minorities in educational leadership, according to a release from the district. “I am extremely humbled and honored to receive an award named after a true hero for equity and social justice,” said Torres. “I share Dr. Jones’ commitment to ensuring that we

Egyptian Region awards Presidential Citations The Egyptian Region of the IASA has issued Presidential Citations to Dr. Robert Buser, a retired professor from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and Larry Cornett, the chief executive officer of the Jefferson County YMCA. Each year, IASA encourages regions to present Presidential Citations to individuals who have made significant contributions to public education even though they may not be professional educators. Dr. Buser was cited for being involved in teaching, mentoring and supporting educational leaders for more than 40 years. Cornet was honored for promoting expansion of programs for students and collaborating with schools in Jefferson County.

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