Dwight Bonds, an educator for over 50 years and executive director of the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators, was honored with the California Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s Outstanding Instructional Leader award for 2023.

Bonds accepted the award during the CAAASA Conference on March 15. Under Bonds’ leadership, CAAASA has grown its membership exponentially; strengthened key partnerships to support improving experiences and outcomes for African-American students; and is recognized as a critical voice in addressing the underrepresentation of African American teachers and administrators. Bonds has worked tirelessly during his 16-year tenure as executive director to identify and expand opportunities to provide high-quality, student-driven professional development and establish professional learning networks with state and local entities focused on eliminating disparities and improving educational systems for students of color. Most recently, CAAASA’s mission has broadened to include supporting health and wellness for students and families of color through partnerships and grants that provide health and dental screenings and information, immunizations, school supplies, food, clothing and other essential resources.

Bonds has worked in many capacities including school administrator with Los Angeles County Office of Education. He also served as an associate director for a federal education teacher training program at the University of Southern California. As an employee of LACOE, he established exemplary educational programs including the Hollywood Entertainment Museum Arts Academy. This high school was created to provide adjudicated students with career preparation and employment in the entertainment/art industry. Bonds also established meaningful work partnership programs for students with disabilities including Target stores, Vons Company, Johnson & Johnson companies, Paramount Studios and McDonald’s national and state corporate offices. Bonds has spent most of his professional career working with challenged student populations including incarcerated youth, students with disabilities and students in alternative settings.

He serves on the National Alliance of Black School Educators Foundation Board of Directors, National Council on Educating Black Children Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Education is a Civil Rights Committee and many other educational civil rights organizations.