Tacoma school superintendent Santorno finalist for national education award

Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Carla Santorno is one of two finalists for a top national award from the American Association of School Administrators.

The association announced Monday that Santorno is a finalist for its Women in School Leadership award.

“I am honored to be selected as a finalist. I know of so many exemplary women leaders in Washington who deserve recognition for their work to improve the success of our state’s children,” said Santorno. “I am grateful to represent them.”

The award is recognition for demonstrating strength in professionalism, community involvement and communication.

Under Santorno’s leadership, the association said, Tacoma Public Schools has initiated partnerships that have had positive results. It cited the district’s partnership with the Tacoma Housing Authority at McCarver Elementary School that combines housing vouchers with parent engagement and housing stability. Partnerships with local colleges have yielded scholarship funding for qualified low-income students. And the district teamed with the University of Washington Tacoma on its Whole Child Initiative, which focuses on social and emotional learning for students.

“Carla’s efforts to forge better partnerships between the district and the city of Tacoma are a model for building strong schools,” said Bill Keim, executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Tacoma school superintendent Santorno finalist for national education award."