Alabama school board leader honored
2/8/05 -- Sandra Sims-deGraffenried, executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB), has been honored with NSBA’s Thomas A. Shannon Award for Excellence in School Boards Association Leadership.
The award, presented at NSBA’s Annual Leadership Conference Jan. 29 in Washington, D.C., recognizes leadership, achievement, and dedication to public education. The award, established in 1997, is named in honor of former NSBA Executive Director Thomas A. Shannon.
“Sandra is a powerful advocate for children, school board members, and public education,” says NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant. “She is an extraordinary leader who has worked hard to improve achievement levels for all Alabama students and to increase funding for Alabama public schools. She is highly respected by her colleagues across the country, and we are proud to honor her with this award.”
“I am honored to receive this award, but my work is futile without the very capable and generous support and commitment given by our board and staff,” says Sims-deGraffenried, who has led AASB since 1988. “We are deeply committed to helping school board members create the best possible schools for the children of Alabama.”
"We are deeply committed to helping school board members create the best possible schools for the children of Alabama."
Sims-deGraffenried is also a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States and a member of the Southern Regional Education Board. She is on the board of directors of the Alabama Civil Justice Reform Committee and the Southeastern Regional Vision for Education.
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