The accolades continue to pour in for Atlanta Public Schools.
Atlanta school board member Emmett Johnson received the 2009 Richard R. Green Award, the Council of the Great City Schools has announced. Johnson, a 12-year veteran of the school board, received the prestigious urban education leadership award during a ceremony at the council’s annual conference in Portland.
Johnson’s win is the latest in a series of honors for Atlanta education leaders. Earlier this month, the Atlanta Board of Education was hailed as the best in the nation by the Council of Urban Boards of Education, part of the National School Boards Association.
And Superintendent Beverly L. Hall, who won the Richard R. Green Award in 2006, is the 2009 Superintendent of the Year, an award given by the American Association of School Administrators.
The council, which represents 66 of the nation’s urban school districts, said Johnson has brought strong leadership during his tenure, having served as a chair and vice chair of the board. He has also taken the lead in advocating before the Georgia General Assembly and keeping communication strong among Hall and the board members. Johnson also was instrumental in the formation of a nonprofit foundation that supports. the school district.
The Richard R. Green Award alternates between urban superintendents and board members. Last year’s winner was Pat Forgione, who was retiring after 10 years as superintendent of the Austin, Texas, school district. As this year’s winner, Johnson received a $10,000 college scholarship he can give to the Atlanta high school senior of his choice from his alma mater.
Photo: Veteran Atlanta school board member Emmet Johnson (center) is cheered as he is announced the winner of the 2009 Richard R. Green Award for urban education leadership. Image courtesy of the Council of the Great City Schools.