SEEC-ing and Celebrating Superintendents Who Center Students
This blog post was written by Megan Fink, partnerships and policy manager at NAAEE.
There is something about walking into a school building that makes me feel hopeful. There is promise in the air. A similar feeling washed over me as we took our seats for the opening session, “Lead from WHO You Are,” at the 2026 AASA National Conference on Education. To be surrounded by thousands of education leaders who show up day in and day out, seeking to create healthy, vibrant, thriving communities of students, educators, and vital support staff needed to make our schools safe, productive places of learning and inspiration, was deeply moving and humbling.
The Exhibit Hall felt like one big pep rally! NAAEE and Project Learning Tree (PLT) exhibited together on behalf of the Superintendents’ Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) to:
- share funding strategies and models for environmental literacy initiatives;
- connect superintendents with environmental education resources and partners; and,
- highlight the sustainability efforts of superintendents across the continent doing this critical work.
And we were not alone! Hundreds of exhibitors showed up to support superintendents from across the United States and Canada. From a Knowledge Exchange Theater and an Advocacy Action Center to a Social Media Lounge and a Health and Wellness Center complete with yoga sessions and therapy dogs, the hall was a buzz with innovative ideas to strengthen public education and improve the lives of district leaders, teachers, and students.
This year, SEEC was especially excited to celebrate three incredible superintendents who have been steadfast champions of environmental education:
- Mr. Kevin Kaardal, Central Okanagan Public Schools, BC, recipient of the Canadian Superintendent of the Year,
- Dr. Aaron Spence, Loudoun County Public Schools, VA, recipient of the Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award, and
- Dr. Karen Cheser, Durango Public Schools, CO, recipient of the EmpowerEd Digital Superintendent of the Year!
A huge, heartfelt congratulations to these SEEC superintendents for their outstanding contributions to the field of Education.
We also had the opportunity to attend inspiring sessions and hear from education leaders working on the frontlines to ensure all our public school students feel safe, seen, and cared for every day. Sessions like “The Intersection of Student Health and Achievement and Success,” where superintendent Dr. Armand Pires of Medway Public Schools, MA, and Dr. John Skretta of Lincoln Public Schools, NE, shared thoughtful strategies on how to boost pro-social behaviors and integrate pro-health programs into their districts to ensure that all students feel welcome and have access to the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Dr. Mark Bedell, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD, Dr. Luvelle Brown, Ithaca City School District, NY, Dr. Scott Menzel, Scottsdale Unified School District, AZ, Dr. Aaron Spence, Loudoun County Public Schools, VA, and Dr. Julie Vitale, Oceanside Unified School District, CA, shared powerful stories of how they re-framed divisive issues by centering student well-being and sticking to their school districts’ values in “Reclaiming the Narrative: Protecting Good Teaching, Viral Content, and Students' Sense of Belonging.”
During the session, “Career Ready, World Ready: Developing Global Employability Skills Through Purposeful Programming,” Dr. Hafedh Azaiez, Round Rock Independent School District, TX, Dr. Karen Cheser, Durango School District, CO, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, School District of Philadelphia, PA, and Dr. Kusum Sinha, Garden City Public Schools, NY, shared the importance of immersive learning experiences to develop students’ adaptability, communication, critical thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration skills—indispensable in any future career path.
What do all of these superintendents have in common? They put students firmly at the center of their work. They work to ensure the air and water in their school districts are clean and healthy to breathe and drink. They find room in the budget to provide hands-on, real-world educational experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning. They strive to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to solve 21st-century challenges and to be prepared for future career paths that we can only imagine. They arrive before the school buses and get home after the 6:00 PM school board meeting. They do it all for our kids, for the next generation. We cannot thank them enough for their service and dedication.
The AASA 2027 National Conference on Education is scheduled for February 25–27 in Atlanta, Georgia. We would be thrilled to work with any superintendents passionate about environmental literacy, sustainability, and centering students in this work on submitting a proposal! Submissions for the AASA 2027 Conference are due by 11:59 PM ET on May 29, 2026. For more information, visit the AASA call for proposals.
The environmental stewards of tomorrow are in our classrooms today. Let’s provide them with an education that meets the needs of our changing world and helps create a better future for everyone. SEEC is here to offer help and support in any and all of your efforts to advance environmental literacy in your districts! Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or opportunities to problem-solve and collaborate or to get connected with your colleagues in other parts of the country. We are here to support you, your teachers, and, of course, your students!
Learn more about the Superintendents’ Environmental Education Collaborative