November 10, 2009
For further information contact: Melissa Gibson
CASE Director of Communications
303.762.8762 x103; 303.762.8697 (fax)
mgibson@co-case.org
Jeffco school leader named Colorado Superintendent of the Year
Cynthia Stevenson, superintendent of the Jefferson County School District, is the 2010 Colorado Superintendent of the Year. Stevenson’s selection was announced by the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE).
Superintendent since 2002, Stevenson is highly regarded as an outstanding leader with an unwavering dedication to educating students. She is strongly committed to striving for continued improvement among public educators, and is unwavering in her support of teachers and principals as they pursue ongoing professional growth. She believes firmly that all students should have a variety of options to pursue when they graduate from high school, and that having these choices is contingent upon excellent teaching and learning conditions.
Stevenson’s history with the Jefferson County School district is long-standing. She began her administrative career as a principal in 1985, and prior to being named superintendent was an Area Administrator, an Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and Deputy Superintendent.
The Jefferson County School District Cabinet nominated Stevenson for the award, noting her visionary leadership style and stating that she “never ceases to advocate for both Jefferson County schools and for every child in the state of Colorado.” The Cabinet added that she is focused on improving achievement for all of Jeffco’s 85,000 students and “inspires (Jeffco’s) principals and teachers to strive for greatness.”
A product of Jeffco schools, Stevenson attended the University of Colorado where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as Ph.D. in Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum Development.
“Dr. Stevenson is truly an exemplary school leader,” said CASE Executive Director John Hefty. “She has had a huge positive impact on the education of the many hundreds of thousands of students that have attended Jeffco schools during her time as a leader. She brings to her role as Jeffco superintendent great energy and integrity, and is respected by her peers as being a passionate advocate for students. She is most deserving of this award. ”
ARAMARK ServiceMaster, ING Foundation and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) sponsor the awards program in conjunction with CASE. Stevenson was selected by a group of her peers from the Colorado Association of Superintendents and Senior Administrators (CASSA), a department of CASE, and an affiliate of AASA. Criteria for selection include exemplary performance in (1) leadership for learning, (2) communication skills, (3) professionalism, and (4) community involvement.
CASSA board member Bret Robinson chaired the selection process and said Stevenson has been an active leader in CASE and CASSA. “Dr. Stevenson is an outstanding choice for Colorado Superintendent of the Year. She has impacted public education in her own community in a very positive way, and she is also an influential school leader at the state level through a number of organizations including serving as chair of the Denver Area School Superintendents Council,” said Robinson.
As Colorado’s Superintendent of the Year, Stevenson is eligible to become the National Superintendent of the Year. The national winner will be announced at AASA’s annual conference in February 2010.
Established in 1969, the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) is an organization of more than 2,000 school administrators committed to improving student achievement through promoting and building quality education leadership in all Colorado schools.
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