ACSA state award recipients announced
March 29, 2021
Every year, ACSA’s Awards Committee is faced with a daunting task: selecting 26 statewide award recipients out of hundreds of worthy candidates.
This year’s committee, chaired by immediate ACSA Past-President Linda Kaminski and comprised of current state board members, spent five weeks reading through close to 250 nominations, then met to select the recipient in each category.
“The winners are outstanding,” Kaminski said. “The whole process speaks volumes about the quality of educators in California.”
She added, “Everyone is so surprised and humbled by winning.”
Awards Committee member Derrick Chau, senior executive director of P-12 Instruction at LAUSD, was impressed by the nominations in general. “I’ve really enjoyed reading about the amazing work happening across the state,” he said.
The 2021 statewide winners will be featured in EdCal stories this summer and fall, and honored as part of the Leadership Summit, Nov. 4-6.
For more information on the program and recognition events, visit acsa.org/awards.
2021 Special Awards
Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award
Anthony Knight
Superintendent, Oak Park USD
Region 13
Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence
Raul Maldonado
Superintendent of Schools, Palmdale SD
Region 15
Robert E. Kelly Award
Will Ector
Region 8
Partners in Educational Excellence Award
Latino Health Access
Region 17
Valuing Diversity Award
Carol Osborne
Associate Superintendent of Learning Support Services, Poway USD
Region 18
2021 Administrators of the Year
Superintendent of the Year
Sarah Koligian
Superintendent, Folsom Cordova USD
Region 3
Secondary Principal of the Year
John Briquelet
Principal, Gretchen Whitney High School, ABC USD
Region 14
Middle Grades Principal of the Year
Lorianne Ventura
Principal, Cottonwood Creek School, Dublin USD
Region 6
Elementary Principal of the Year
Peter Van Court
Principal, Clarendon Elementary, San Francisco USD
Region 5
Central Office Administrator of the Year - County/District
Amy Peterman
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Ceres USD
Region 7
Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year
Felicia Limbrick
Assistant Principal, Monrovia High School, Monrovia USD
Region 15
Elementary Co-Administrator of the Year
Kristyn Andrews
Assistant Principal, Cambridge & Foxboro Elementary, Travis USD
Region 4
Classified Leader of the Year
Barbara Alejandre
Chief Intergovernmental Relations Officer, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Region 12
Confidential Employee of the Year
Leslie Baker
Human Resources Specialist, Certificated, El Dorado Union HSD
Region 2
Personnel/Human Resources Administrator of the Year
David Marshall
Resolution Officer, Riverside USD
Region 19
Adult Education Administrator of the Year
Ivan Ayro
Director of Adult Education and Career Technical Education, Charter Oak Adult Education, Charter Oak USD
Region 15
Career Technical Education Administrator of the Year
Alecia Myers-Kelley
Director of Programs and Student Support Services, MetroEd
Region 8
Special Education Administrator of the Year
William Sachau, Jr.
Director, Special Services, Early Childhood Special Education Center, San Benito COE
Region 10
Superintendent/Principal of the Year
Scott Borba
Superintendent/Principal, Le Grand Elementary School, Le Grand Union ESD
Region 9
Business Services Administrator of the Year
Frances Ufondu
Chief Business Officer, Palmdale School District
Region 15
Student Services Administrator of the Year
Lynne Sheffield
Director of Student Services, Welcome and Registration Center, Moreno Valley USD
Region 19
Curriculum & Instruction Administrator of the Year
Kimberly MacKinney
Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Oro Grande School District, Oro Grande SD
Region 12
Continuation/Educational Options Administrator of the Year
Erick Fineberg
Principal, Tustin Connect, Tustin USD
Region 17
Professor of Education of the Year
Denise Wickham
Adjunct Professor of Education, California State University, Stanislaus and Deputy Superintendent of Personnel Services, Ceres USD
Region 7
Retired Administrator of the Year
Dave Urquhart
Region 7
Technology Administrator of the Year
Thomas Tan
Director of Network and Computer Services, Hacienda La Puente SD
Region 15