Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Announces Recipients of 2021-2022 Leadership Awards

The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) has selected 18 outstanding leaders to receive awards for their education advocacy and leadership. All eighteen of the honorees were announced today and will be honored during the 18th Annual National Gala and Awards Dinner Oct. 9, 2021 in Washington D.C. The event takes place at the Arena Stage Mead Center for American Theater in Washington D.C. on the last day of the ALAS’ 18th Annual National Education Summit, which runs from Oct. 8-9 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, with a special On-The-Hill day Oct. 7th for the convening of ALAS’ state affiliates to meet with state representatives. Tickets for the Gala and Awards Dinner can be purchased here: and all attendees must be vaccinated.

ALAS’ 2021-2022 honorees are:

ALAS Superintendent of the Year Award – Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools, OR
ALAS Administrator of the Year Award – Elba Garcia, Executive Director, D.C. Public Schools, D.C.
ALAS Champions of Equity Award
- Don Austin, Superintendent, Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
- Theresa Plascencia, Superintendent, Waukegan Community Unit School District #60, IL
- LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent, Aldine Independent School District, TX
- Richard Carranza, Chief of Strategy and Global Development, IXL Learning
- Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent, Edmonds School District, WA
ALAS National Latino Teacher and Administrator Advocate of the Year Award – Dr. Anthony Rosilez, Executive Director at Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
ALAS National Latina Advocate of the Year Award – Carmen Xiomara Urbina, Deputy Director, Oregon Department of Education
National Friends of ALAS Award – Michael Haggen, Senior Vice President, General Manager, LitPro & Collections, Scholastic Education Solutions
ALAS National Leader of Impact of the Year Award – Doug Fisher, Professor of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University, CA
ALAS National Humanitarian Award –
- Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade Public Schools, FL
- Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent, Dallas Public Schools, TX
ALAS National Estrella Award – Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education
ALAS National Trailblazer Award – Senator Patricia Murray
ALAS National Early Childhood Education Advocate of the Year Award – Congresswoman Katherine Manning
ALAS National Latino Leader of Inspiration Award – John Leguizamo, actor and director
ALAS National Lifetime Achievement Award – Maria Ott, Executive in Residence, USC Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, CA

“We’re thrilled to recognize these 18 amazing leaders for their achievements and advocacy in helping to advance education and opportunities for Latino and other historically marginalized youth and working to enrich the perspective of our rich and diverse Latino culture,” said ALAS Executive Director Dr. Maria Armstrong. “They are truly an inspiration and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments!”

The ALAS National Education Summit takes place Oct. 7-9, 2021 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and brings together hundreds of ALAS members, education industry leaders, affiliate non-profits, law firms, consultants, the U.S. Department of Education, and White House representatives from across the country together to discuss mutual national, state and local challenges, particularly those impacting Latino and other historically marginalized youth, and share practices of promise to address them in an ever-changing educational landscape. The National Education Summit is one of a variety of events that ALAS offers throughout the year.

For more information about ALAS, visit https://www.alasedu.org/.

American Consortium for Equity in Education

The American Consortium for Equity in Education, publisher of the "Equity & Access" journal, celebrates and connects the educators, associations, community partners and industry leaders who are working to solve problems and create a more equitable environment for historically underserved pre K-12 students throughout the United States.