NSPRA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Superintendents to Watch award! From a record number of nomination submissions received this year, 25 superintendents from around the country were selected for the honor in recognition of their innovative and effective use of technology to engage and inform the school community, and to expand two-way communication and outreach efforts.

This annual NSPRA award recognizes up to 25 school district leaders each year who have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent and who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. Since the 2015-16 school year, NSPRA has recognized 127 school district leaders as Superintendents to Watch.

“This year’s honorees understand just how important effective communication is in building trust and relationships with families, employees, students and community members in their districts,” said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. “These emerging leaders have proven to be dedicated champions of innovative communication efforts to advance their districts' success.”

Congratulations to this year’s exemplary honorees:

Travis Bracht, Ed.D. Affton School District Affton, Mo.	Kristin Brown, Ed.D. Lyford Consolidated Independent School District Lyford, Texas	Sharon Byrdsong, Ed.D. Norfolk Public Schools   Norfolk, Va.
Shaun Carey, Ed.D. Enumclaw School District Enumclaw, Wash.	Joey Castilleja, Ed.D. Mabton School District Mabton, Wash.	Adam Clark, Ed.D. Mt. Diablo Unified School District Concord, Calif.
John Gordon, III, Ed.D. Suffolk Public Schools Suffolk, Va.	Guadalupe Guerrero Portland Public Schools Portland, Ore.	Peter Hannigan, Ed.D.  Hawthorn School District 73 Vernon Hills, Ill.
Kevin Hendrick Pinellas Public Schools Largo, Fla.	Eduardo Hernández, Ed.D. Edgewood Independent School District San Antonio, Texas	Lupita Hinojosa, Ed.D. Spring Independent School District  Houston, Texas
Alfonso Jiménez, Ed.D. Hacienda La Puente Unified School District City of Industry, Calif.	Sean Maika, Ed.D. North East Independent  School District San Antonio, Texas	Alex Marrero, Ed.D. Denver Public Schools Denver, Colo.
Joshua McDowell, Ed.D. Crete Public Schools Crete, Neb.	Rosanna Mucetti, Ed.D. Napa Valley Unified School District Napa, Calif.	Brian Nichols, Ed.D. New Kent County Public Schools New Kent, Va.
Josh Reitz, Ed.D. McHenry School District 15 McHenry, Ill.	Mike Rockwood, Ed.D. Lake Dallas Independent School District Lake Dallas, Texas	Diana Sayavedra El Paso Independent School District El Paso, Texas

Greg Sears Kings Local School District  Kings Mills, Ohio

Adam Swinyard, Ed.D. Spokane Public Schools Spokane, Wash.

Ameca Thomas, Ph.D. Laurens School District 55 Laurens, S.C

Benjamin Wiggins, Ed.S.  Colquitt County School District Moultrie, Ga.

Each award recipient will be profiled in upcoming issues of NSPRA's monthly Member Memo e-newsletter. Honorees will also be recognized at the NSPRA 2023 National Seminar in St. Louis in July. Congratulations again to this outstanding group of district leaders, and thank you to all who submitted nominations!