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Association of California School Administrators
Association of California School Administrators
Solomon a leader for change
November 4, 2019
Award: Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award Name: Suzan T. Solomon Title: Newhall School District Governing Board Member Region: 15 If all the world’s a stage, Suzan T. Solomon has played many roles: an advocate for children, a champion for the arts, a leader for change. Solomon is the 2019 recipient of ACSA’s highest honor, the Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award, which is bestowed each year upon one individual who has made a significant contribution to education. The award is named after Ferd. Kiesel, ACSA’s founding president and a man whose personal commitment to schools and students, and to ACSA, was exemplary. Solomon’s commitment to education spans 40 years, starting with her service in her local PTA. In 1999, she joined the Newhall School District Governing Board, an office she sought in order to represent the diverse voices in the community. Under her leadership, the district has focused on instructional frameworks, support for leadership, and using data and research to determine best practices.  Even as the district transitioned to Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, Solomon has ensured that all students had access to quality standards-based core instruction and interventions to help them achieve. Last year, the district piloted an inclusion model classroom for special needs students where they received equitable instruction in a general education class. These and other efforts have yielded outstanding results in the district’s CASSP scores. “Her ability to embrace change and be a lead-learner is truly unprecedented as a Governing Board Member,” said Newhall School District Superintendent Jeff Pelzel. “She has truly empowered me to be a change leader.” Solomon has applied that mindset to other leadership roles at the state and national levels, including with the California School Boards Association, California State PTA, California League of Schools and the No Child Left Behind Committee. “What the NSD has accomplished in pursuit of academic excellence is the proven basis for my efforts to inspire, encourage, and empower others in public education and the PTA on the state and national levels,” she said. As a member of the state advisory committee to create the California School Dashboard, Solomon fought for parental engagement to be included as a local indicator for school success.  “Study after study shows that family engagement in a child’s education is as important as the child having an effective teacher,” she said. “Support for learning at home is crucial and all adults need to be given the tools and resources to support learning at home.” An ardent supporter of arts education, Solomon counts developing and implementing a comprehensive Arts Master Plan in her district as one of her proudest accomplishments.  “I have always understood the importance of the arts education and now it is as much a priority as mathematics, English language arts, and science,” said Solomon, who has a master’s degree in theater.  In addition to the Arts Master Plan, the district completed modernization of the Newhall Elementary Auditorium, which has been re-designated as the Newhall Family Theatre where all district schools and the local community can perform and attend cultural events. “Her selfless leadership has changed the lives of thousands of children,” said Michelle Morse, assistant superintendent, human resources. 
Newhall SD Governing Board Member Suzan Solomon.
Suzan Solomon is the recipient of the 2019 Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award.
Suzan T. Solomon.
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