Awards and Scholarships

Recognizing outstanding leadership and supporting the development of Alabama’s future education leaders.

Celebrating Leadership and Supporting the Future

School Superintendents of Alabama encourages excellence in school practice and supports the development of effective education leadership, both now and in the future.

SSA recognizes outstanding superintendents, honors officers and board members completing their terms of service, and presents legislative awards to superintendents and other members who contribute in especially significant ways during the legislative session.

SSA believes Alabama’s future depends on developing quality teachers and leaders and is proud to offer awards and scholarships with the support of its Business Partners.

Alabama Superintendent of the Year

Each SSA district selects a District Superintendent of the Year finalist in August. Each district finalist submits a résumé to SSA by the September deadline.

SSA appoints a panel of judges to review the finalists’ applications and select Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year. The state winner competes nationally to become one of four nationwide finalists, represents Alabama at AASA’s National Conference on Education in February, and is honored during a luncheon at the SSA Legislative Conference in Montgomery.

Schneider Electric provides the winner with a Superintendent of the Year ring and travel expenses to the National Conference.

CLAS Leadership Award

The CLAS Leadership Award is provided by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. SSA and each CLAS affiliate may submit a nomination.

SSA’s Executive Committee reviews the Leadership Award nomination materials and makes the association’s official nomination of an active SSA member.

AASA Distinguished Service Award

Retired AASA members who have maintained membership for at least 10 years, have been retired for at least one year, and meet the award qualifications may be nominated for this national recognition.

The immediate past president of AASA is automatically nominated. Nomination forms are sent to state executives in August and are also available on the AASA website beginning May 1 each year. Nominations are due to AASA by September 15.

The judging process is handled at the national level, and the recipient is announced during AASA’s National Conference on Education in February.

SSA Administrator Scholarships

SSA recognizes the need to attract qualified individuals into the field of school administration and invites applications from Alabama educators pursuing graduate degrees in school administration.

SSA awards four scholarships of $1,000 each. Eligible degree programs may include M.S./M.A., A.A./Ed.S., Ed.D./Ph.D., or Instructional Leadership programs.

Applications are emailed to superintendents and SSA members in early spring. The application deadline is listed on the official application form.

Applications may also be requested through your superintendent or by contacting SSA at (334) 262-0014 .

SSA Student Scholarships

SSA awards nine $1,000 scholarships to Alabama high school seniors. Scholarship recipients are solicited and selected by the nine superintendents named as district finalists for the SSA/Schneider Electric Superintendent of the Year Award.

Each finalist superintendent selects and presents a $1,000 scholarship to a student within his or her school system.

Students are selected based on their intent to pursue a degree in education, graduation during the spring of the award year, a minimum 3.0 grade-point average, and a minimum ACT score of 18. Scholarship recipients are notified by their superintendent.

Scholarship Recipient Press Releases

Select a year below to view scholarship recipient announcements.