NC School Superintendents’ Association Press Release
The North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) have announced the selection of the following as the recipients of the Dr. Samuel Houston Jr. Leadership Award: Dr. Kimberly Dechant, Director of Recruitment and Induction, Asheville City Schools; Dr. Danielle Jones, Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools, Durham Public Schools; Dr. Lionel Kato, Chief Officer-Learning Supports, Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools; Dr. Ben Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Wilson County Schools. This annual award is presented to graduates of the NCSSA/NCASLD Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.
The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina. Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world, and building education partnerships. Dr. Houston also served as the first executive director of the University of North Carolina Center for Leadership Development.
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