2010 Region 12 Superintendent and School Board of the Year Selected
WACO, Texas – Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is pleased to announce Harold D. Ramm of Groesbeck ISD has been chosen as the 2010 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year (SOTY), and the Temple ISD school board has been named the 2010 Region 12 School Board of the Year. Ramm will advance as Region 12’s Texas SOTY nominee, while Temple ISD will be entered in the state Honor Board race.
“I am delighted to hear that Dr. Ramm has been named Superintendent of the Year,” expressed Tom Norris, executive director at ESC Region 12. “He has made a positive impact for Groesbeck ISD and has set the bar on running a successful school district.
“As for the school board at Temple ISD, their efforts to continuously improve the quality of education for both students and teachers are much appreciated,” Norris said. “They both truly deserve these honors.”
Candidates for both awards are chosen for strong leadership skills, dedication to improving the quality of education in their school districts, commitment to public support and involvement in education, and the ability to build good employee relations among teachers and staff members.
The SOTY is selected based on responses to questions regarding topics over administration and school climate, school board-superintendent relations, school improvement, fiscal management, facilities management, instructional management, student management, personnel management and school-community relations. Nominees must also turn in a student performance worksheet, resume, photo and resolution, as well as will undergo a personal interview with a panel of judges.
From the time Ramm accepted his position as superintendent of GISD, the school climate took a turn for the best. Ramm aided in the transformation of two campuses from “academically unacceptable” to “recognized” ratings, as well as in the passing of two bond elections. Ramm has given the GISD community a common vision, with goals to build a new school and administration building, renovate other schools, and upgrade technology district-wide. He has also initiated various programs including Fast ForWord, the Groesbeck Education Foundation, a school bus docking system, and developed an administrative role matrix.
With more than 25 years of superintendent experience, Ramm is a TEA school district board member, continuing education provider. Ramm has served as a teacher, coach, education consultant and superintendent. He’s active in the community by serving as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge and V.F.W. He also works with other area school boards on leadership and team bulding.
TISD is the first honoree in four years to garner the Region 12 School Board of the Year accolade, the fourth school board overall in the region’s history. The TISD board of trustees includes Steve Wright (president), Mary Klentzman (vice president), Susan Long (secretary), David Pennington, Jerry Pickle, Dorothy Powell and Virginia Suarez.
School boards are nominated by a district’s superintendent, and the award is given annually based on a set of criteria including: effectiveness, follows board policy, supports educational performance standards and educational improvement, is committed to a code of ethics, provides financial support for the school system, participates in workshops and other performance improvement programs, prioritizes serving children above political motives, initiates public relations efforts, and maintains harmonious and supportive relationships among board members. School board members do not receive pay for the hours spent studying board issues, attending meetings, listening to community concerns and supporting school activities.
In August, the state committee will interview regional SOTY winners and select five state finalists, and TASA's School Board Awards Committee will review the regional winners and select not more than five boards to be named and recognized as Honor Boards for the year. The Texas SOTY as well as the Outstanding School Board will then be interviewed and announced at the TASA/TASB Convention in September.
ESC Region 12 will host an awards ceremony to honor Ramm and the TISD school board in the fall. For more information on the SOTY or School Board of the Year reception visit www.esc12.net/awards.
About the SOTY and TASB
Since 1984, the Superintendent of the Year award program has honored outstanding Texas Administrators for achievement and excellence in public school administration. TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.7 million students.
About School Board Awards Program
The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) created the School Board Awards Program in 1971 to recognize those school boards that have demonstrated outstanding dedication and rendered ethical service to the children of Texas. The criteria emphasize evidence of support for educational performance improvement. The awards program allows each regional selection committee to submit up to two nominations for state competition, one from districts with less than 1,000 students and one from districts with more than 1,000 students.
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