Monday, April 30, 2007

Commissioner-select Erwin's awards confirmed

The question raised by a Courier-Journal reader is now resolved. A little smoke. No fire.

The reader was concerned by the quote, "She was named Texas Superintendent of the year in 1997 and 1998," so I checked it out. After some difficulties (the Texas Association of School Administrator's website was down for a while this morning) I got confirmation from Lisa Gross at KDE and finally the TASA website.

Later, I got this frrom AASA: "Amy Vogt (TASA) has asked me to respond to your question regarding Barbara Erwin. Yes, in 1999 when she was a superintendent in Texas she was that state’s representative in the National Superintendent of the Year program. If you have any further questions, please let me know. Darlene S. Pierce, Director, National Superintendent of the Year Program"

The Texas recognition program is tied to the American Assoication of School Administrators program. The way the AASA's national program works...Each state selects one nominee as its representative. Four national finalists are selected from among the state representatives, and the National Superintendent of the Year is chosen from four finalists. Erwin was the Texas representative for 1999.

She was the TSBA winner in 1997; the TASA winner (and as such, a nominee for the national AASA award) in 1999.

The news reports should have read, "She was named (TSBA) Texas Superintendent of the Year in 1997 and (TASA) Superintendent of the Year in 1999."

~
What are your thoughts about the identification of Barbara Erwin as the leading candidate for Kentucky Commissioner of Education? Let 'em know here.

No comments: