The National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) presented the 2024 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award to William Turner, School Board President of the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in Indiana. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the educational needs of urban school children through their service as a local school board member. Turner received the award during the 2024 CUBE Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 29, before an audience of nearly 1,000 urban school board members and education leaders.
“On behalf of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE), I am honored to congratulate Bill Turner on receiving the 2024 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Gill Garrett, CUBE Chair and school board member of the Pontiac School District in Michigan. “Mr. Turner’s unwavering dedication to educational equity and his transformative work — from his early days in the Washington Township School system to his current role as Associate Vice President for Jobs for the Future — exemplify the spirit of this prestigious award.”
CUBE CHAIR GILL GARRETT; METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT WILLIAM TURNER; NSBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VERJEANA MCCOTTER-JACOBS
In his 14-year service to the Metro School District of Washington Township, William (Bill) Turner helped implement a successful supplier diversity initiative that resulted in over $110 million directed to firms owned by women, minorities, veterans, and the physically challenged. Throughout the process, Mr. Turner's steadfast support and consensus-building made the program highly successful. Along with his support of diverse businesses, he helped lead work to direct students to in-demand career opportunities by exposing them to advanced manufacturing and construction fields.
The award is named for Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, who joined the Atlanta Board of Education in 1969 and served as its president from 1970-1981. During his tenure on the board, Mays worked tirelessly to provide equal educational opportunities for children. He is also remembered for his outstanding leadership and service as a scholar, teacher, minister, mentor, author, and civil rights activist.
“It was an honor to nominate our remarkable leader, Mr. Bill Turner, president of the Washington Township School Board, for the prestigious Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Dr. Nikki Woodson, Superintendent of Washington Township Schools in Indianapolis. “Under his extraordinary 14 years of board service to our school district leadership and his belief that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive regardless of their background, our district has flourished, ensuring that every child has access to quality education. With his commitment to both excellence and inclusion, Mr. Turner sets the tone of excellence in urban education for our schools, is the epitome of an engaged public school board member, and embodies the vision from Dr. Mays through his governance work on the school board in Washington Township.”
“Bill Turner’s career exemplifies the power of visionary leadership in urban education,” said Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO of the National School Boards Association. “His unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success has had a transformative impact on the Washington Township community and beyond. The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute to his decades of service, and we are proud to honor his extraordinary contributions to public education. Mr. Turner’s work continues to inspire school board members across the nation to lead with integrity, passion, and a steadfast focus on creating opportunities for all students.”
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