The 2025 Leading Edge Award recognizes CABE, the Abrazo Award honors a Springfield Public Schools Board Member, and three districts receive the inaugural Innovative Technology Integration Award.
March 14, 2025
NSBA PRESIDENT DON HUBLER (LEFT) CONGRATULATES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION
OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION.
PHOTO CREDIT: GILL GARRETT
Awards season is underway at NSBA. While the Magna Awards, featured in this issue of ASBJ, will be presented at our Annual Conference in Atlanta in April, three other prominent awards were handed out at NSBA’s Leadership Seminar and at the Advocacy and Equity Institute in Washington, D.C., in February.
During the Leadership Seminar, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) received NSBA’s Leading Edge Award, which recognizes state school boards associations for innovative programs that serve their members. Features of CABE’s award-winning program—an enhanced professional development initiative and partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education—include:
· Customized professional development sessions for individual school boards.
· A webinar series on school finance delivered in collaboration with the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials.
· A webinar series for board chairs and monthly board chair virtual check-ins.
· A mentorship program providing individual leadership development, support sessions, and consultations for current board chairs upon request.
· A workshop for New England school board association leaders, highlighting the program’s impact. The strong interest from attendees suggests its potential for adoption by other state associations.
DENISE HURST (IN BROWN JACKET) ACCEPTS THE 2025 NHC ABRAZO AWARD.
PHOTO CREDIT: NSBA
Denise Hurst, a school committee member for Massachusetts’ Springfield Public Schools, received the 2025 Octaviano “Tony” Gonzalez Abrazo Award. The award was presented by NSBA’s National Hispanic Council (NHC) at NSBA’s 2025 Advocacy and Equity Institute in Washington, D.C. Since 1998, NHC has honored individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the educational opportunities of Latino children through their time, energy, and resources.
Hurst is credited with bringing new focus and commitment to promoting equity and inclusiveness in educational opportunities in Springfield Public Schools. She played a pivotal role in developing and implementing a dual-language English/Spanish program within the district, which has become a model for equitable education, significantly improving academic outcomes and fostering pride in cultural identity among Hispanic students.
President-elect of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Hurst also volunteers and serves on various boards. She is an inaugural graduate of the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts; a member of the League of Women Voters; and a graduate of the 62nd Citizens’ Legislative Seminar, Massachusetts Senate.
THE CENTER FOR DIGITAL EDUCATION’S BRIAN COHEN ANNOUNCES THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AWARD WINNERS.
PHOTO CREDIT: NSBA
Districts recognized for ed-tech innovation
Three school districts were honored for exemplary efforts to harness the power of technology to transform education at NSBA’s 2025 Advocacy and Equity Institute in Washington, D.C.
The Center for Digital Education (CDE) and NSBA sponsored the Innovative Technology Integration Award, which spotlights NSBA members and other districts for leading innovative educational technology practices.
Winners in three enrollment categories were selected from district submissions. Judges evaluated nominees based on their clear vision for technology integration, support by all levels of leadership within their districts, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and commitment to ensuring equitable access to technology resources for all students and staff members. The winners, by enrollment size:
· More than 60,001 students: Washoe County School District, Reno, Nevada, for leadership, commitment, and use of advanced technology, cybersecurity education, and personalized learning platforms to bridge equity gaps and prepare students for a tech-driven world.
· 10,001-60,000 students: Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond, Virginia, for more than 23 years of experience in technology integration, a commitment to leveraging digital tools, AI, and data-driven strategies to enhance learning, empower educators, and ensure equitable access is a best practice that is not overlooked.
· Up to 10,000 students: Peninsula School District, Gig Harbor, Washington, for its vision for technology integration and underlying goal to prepare students for an AI-driven world while focusing strongly on digital wellness and on responsible critical engagement with technology.