Finalists Named for Superintendent of the Year

For Immediate Release: August 30, 2010
Contact: Barbara Williams, 800.580.8272, ext. 6418

(AUSTIN)—Five public school administrators from across Texas were selected as state finalists for the annual Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) award sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Since 1984, the SOTY program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership.

The 2010 finalists and nominating education service centers (ESCs) are Arturo Almendarez, Calallen ISD, ESC 2; Eddie Coulson, College Station ISD, ESC 6; Greg Wright, Hallsville ISD, ESC 7; Shane Fields, Albany ISD, ESC 14; and Larry Appel, Dumas ISD, ESC 16.
All are members of the Texas Association of School Administrators.

The state selection committee, which interviewed all regional winners August 27-28 in Austin, focused on such issues as parental engagement, staff motivation, and college and workforce readiness.
Serving approximately 3,800 students, Almendarez has been superintendent of Calallen ISD since January 2005, and previously held that position from 1992 to 2000. He has 36 years of experience in education administration. The selection committee noted his emphasis on reaching out to parents where they live and his support of numerous athletic and academic booster clubs to help focus on the ultimate success of each student.
Almendarez earned a bachelor’s degree at Sam Houston State College, a master’s degree at Texas A&I University, and doctorate at Texas A&M University. Serving on the board of directors of Citizens for Educational Excellence, he also is a member of the Corpus Christi Northwest Rotary International, alternative certification board member at Texas A&M University, and advisory board member of the Corpus Christi Junior League.
Coulson, superintendent of College Station ISD for four years, serves more than 9,500 students and has 21 years in education administration. Mentioned by the selection committee was his emphasis on motivating staff to see the larger, more meaningful picture, and engaging parents to serve as tutors and partners in education. Also noted was his underlying belief that schools add value to a community and its future.

Active with the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce, Coulson also is a board member of the Bio-Research Valley Partnership, Brazos Valley Workforce Solutions, and has served on the boards of the United Way of the Brazos Valley and Northwest Harris County YMCA. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas Tech University and master’s and doctorate degrees at Sam Houston State University.

At the helm of Hallsville ISD for seven years, Wright has a total of 16 years in education administration and serves more than 4,000 students. Of interest to the committee was his principle that tradition plus pride and hard work will equal success for all students. He was described as honoring the past and having a keen interest in students becoming productive members of society. He also tracks graduates to monitor their success.

In his community, he serves on the Texas Eastman board and is involved in the area Lions Club, Martin Luther King Committees in Longview and Hallsville, Hallsville Ministerial Alliance, Longview Mayor’s Task Force, and various university superintendent and principal mentor programs. Wright earned a bachelor’s degree at Texas A&I University and master’s of education administration at Stephen F. Austin State University.

With a total of 15 years of experience in education administration, Fields has led Albany ISD for seven years and serves about 500 students. The selection committee noted that he keeps parents highly involved through community meetings, uses all campus and district resources for maximum effect, and believes in the educational value of travel for students. He also reaches out to the broader community to foster volunteer programs.
Fields earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s of education administration at Texas Tech University. He is a member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, Albany Kiwanis, and serves on the boards of the West Texas Telecommunications Consortium, Albany Little League, and Old Jail Art Center.  Fields also is an Albany Lion Booster member and Region 14 Equity Center director.

Superintendent of Dumas ISD for 19 years, Appel serves more than 4,000 students and has a total of 32 years of administrative experience. The selection committee cited his focus on a strong foundation of reading and education in the early years. Appel also believes in recognizing the different needs of each campus and the importance of building support to make schools an integral part of the community.

Active in numerous organizations, Appel serves in leadership roles for the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, Amarillo College Moore County Campus Advisory Committee, and Ednet 16, Region 16. A part-time instructor at Amarillo College, he also is active in the Moore Health Families Organization, Dumas Education Foundation, and Moore County Health Foundation. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at West Texas A&M University.

SOTY candidates are chosen for their dedication to improving educational quality, board-superintendent relations, student achievement, and commitment to public support and involvement in education. Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,034 school districts are eligible for nomination by their local boards of trustees. District nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which submits one nominee per region to the state selection committee.

Regional winners nominated by the ESCs are Leonel Galaviz, Valley View ISD, ESC 1; Alton Frailey, Katy ISD, ESC 4; Rodney Cavness, Evadale ISD (now with Port Neches-Groves ISD), ESC 5; Gary VanDeaver, New Boston ISD, ESC 8; Danny Taylor, Burkburnett ISD, ESC 9; Jeffrey Turner, Coppell ISD, ESC 10; David Faltys, Carroll ISD, ESC 11; Harold Ramm, Groesbeck ISD, ESC 12; James Hartman, Marion ISD, ESC 13; Carol Ann Bonds, San Angelo ISD, ESC 15; Rick Teran, Hale Center ISD, ESC 17; Steven Long, Glasscock County ISD, ESC 18; and Poncho Garcia Jr., Fabens ISD, ESC 19.

The 2010 Superintendent of the Year will be announced September 26 at the TASA/TASB Convention in Houston. The winning superintendent will receive an award from Balfour, program underwriter. 

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.