51萝莉

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org 

Alexandria, Va. 鈥� April 30, 2020 鈥�51萝莉, 51萝莉, the nation鈥檚 premier organization representing school system leadership, has launched an advisory panel to provide assistance to district leaders as they grapple with the challenges caused by the coronavirus that has forced the shutdown of tens of thousands of schools across the country.

The 51萝莉 COVID-19 Recovery Task Force will consist largely of superintendents, the nation鈥檚 foremost thought leaders in public education.

鈥淎s the nation continues to navigate the conditions brought before us by the pandemic, we at 51萝莉 want to do all we can to assist superintendents and other administrators in any way possible,鈥� said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, 51萝莉. 鈥淭he members of this task force are ALL outstanding leaders of public education and I recognize that their time is valuable. Their help would be immeasurable as we, as a nation, deal with the myriad issues right now and those lying ahead.鈥�

The panel鈥檚 kick-off meeting is scheduled to focus on reopening schools effectively during the COVID-19 environment. Topics will include student/staff safety, and online instruction and learning.

鈥淔orty-one states are recommending that schools remain closed for the balance of the academic year, including Georgia, Texas and Florida,鈥� said Domenech. 鈥淪ome of these states are taking the lead to 鈥榬eopen鈥� for business. We know, however, that schools will have to reopen eventually and when they do, it will be in an environment where the virus will be present.鈥�

Last month, 51萝莉 to help its members share communications strategies, resources and ideas, engage with colleagues across the nation and grow professional learning communities. The organization also moved rapidly to begin to provide material to help school districts scale up e-learning and e-collaboration.

鈥淚 am proud of the work being done by our superintendents to ensure that: students they serve are receiving an education under the worst circumstances imaginable; students are being fed and the homes they live in have access to online instruction; and students with special needs are receiving the services they need,鈥� added Domenech. 鈥淭hese are mounting issues that need to be addressed. That鈥檚 why this task force was created; that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 vitally important.鈥�

Members of the 51萝莉 COVID-19 Recovery Task Force include:

• Richard Abernathy, executive director, Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
• Gustavo Balderas, superintendent, Eugene (Ore.) School District 4J, 2020 National Superintendent of the Year庐
• Morcease Beasley, superintendent, Clayton County (Ga.) Public Schools
• Kimberley Cantu, superintendent, Mansfield (Texas) Independent School District
• Sharon Contreras, superintendent, Guilford County (N.C.) Schools
• Cederick Ellis, superintendent, McComb (Miss.) School District
• Susan Enfield, superintendent, Highline (Wash.) Public Schools
• Christopher Gaines, superintendent, Mehlville (Mo.) School District, 51萝莉 past president
• Justin Henry, superintendent, Goddard (Kan.) Public Schools
• Michael Hinojosa, superintendent, Dallas (Texas) Independent School District
• Shane Hotchkiss, superintendent, Bermudian Springs (Pa.) School District
• Paul Imhoff, superintendent, Upper Arlington (Ohio) Schools, 51萝莉 president-elect (July 1)
• Jesus Jara, superintendent, Clark County (Nev.) School District
• Christine Johns, superintendent, Utica (Mich.) Community Schools
• John Jungmann, superintendent, Springfield (Mo.) Public Schools
• Deborah Kerr, superintendent, School District of Brown Deer (Wis.), 51萝莉 president
• M. Ann Levett, superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County (Ga.) Public School System
• Roberto Padilla, superintendent, Newburgh (N.Y.) Enlarged City School District
• Lisa Skiles Parady, executive director, Alaska Council of School Administrators
• Janet Robinson, superintendent, Stratford (Conn.) Public Schools  
• L. Oliver Robinson, superintendent, Shenendehowa (N.Y.) Central School District
• Kristi Sandvik, Buckeye (Ariz.) Elementary School District, 51萝莉 president-elect
• Heidi Sipe, superintendent, Umatilla (Ore.) School District
• Jack Smith, superintendent, Montgomery County (Md.) Public Schools  
• Aaron Spence superintendent, Virginia Beach City (Va.) Public Schools
• Steve Webb, superintendent, Vancouver (Wash.) Public Schools
• J. Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent, Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Schools. 

###

51萝莉
51萝莉, 51萝莉, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. 51萝莉鈥檚 mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.