Two Contra Costa County Superintendents were recognized recently by the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA).
Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent of Mt. Diablo Unified School District, has been named Superintendent of the Year. Meanwhile, Dr. Janet Schulze, Superintendent of Pittsburg Unified School District received the Equity Warrior Award
MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark receives “Superintendent of the Year” Award
MDUSD is pleased to announce that Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark has received the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) 2023 Charles Mae Knight and Rex Fortune Superintendent of the Year Award for Excellence in Education. Dr. Clark received the award on Wednesday, March 15th, during CAAASA’s Professional Development conference.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Clark has advocated for all student groups,” the awards program said. “He believes that educational systems need to address the gifts and talents of all student groups regardless of backgrounds or personal resources. Currently, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District is modeling how to establish and implement instructional priorities, system coherence, equity, accountability and autonomy.”
Dr. Clark joined MDUSD as Superintendent in July 2020. Previously, he was the Superintendent of the Vallejo City Unified School District. He has also served as an Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and has held principalships at all three levels.
“I dedicate the Superintendent of the Year award to the adults who support our precious students of Mt. Diablo Unified School District,” Dr. Clark said in a tweet.
Dr. Clark, who is President-elect of CAAASA, also presented on “Leading for Student Success” at the conference, and moderated a panel discussion with LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on that district’s Black Student Achievement Plan aimed at “Prioritizing Students with the Greatest Needs.”
In December, Dr. Clark was named a “2022 Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). Dr. Clark was one of just 24 other superintendents nationwide who were selected for the honor in recognition of their dynamic leadership and strong communications skills.
About CAAASA
CAAASA was reorganized and renamed in 2007. When it was originally founded in 1993, it was called the California Association of African American Superintendents. The new leadership petitioned the organization to change its focus to include both superintendents and administrators allowing emerging leaders in administration the opportunity to better prepare for the superintendency or other high level administrative assignments.
Today, its membership consists of African-American school superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors, and administrators. CAAASA has a history of hosting Institutes, state meetings, state conferences, and many special events since its inception. Serving as an informative link to California Department of Education (CDE), CAAASA makes recommendations on topics to include curriculum and instruction, staff development, parent involvement, funding and gender specific issues. CAAASA has submitted testimony to the speaker of the Assembly which would improve the status of African-American males relative to their disproportionate representation in the penal system and in the Nation’s colleges and universities.
CAAASA has worked in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) by sponsoring events and programs that support increased student achievement and that proved to be successful in addressing the needs of African-American students. Under CAAASA’s leadership, the organization is working closely with new and proposed initiatives that impact the academic achievement of African American students including a most successful and recently sponsored statewide conference in Sacramento, “Education is a Civil Right.”
Additionally, we have met with Executive Search Firms and other stakeholders to address the under representation of African-American Superintendents in California school districts. CAAASA will continue to collaborate with California Department of Education (CDE) and other prominent organizations on projects and programs.
Hat tip to the Contra Costa County Office of Education for the information.
