The Egyptian Division of the Illinois Association of School Administrators is pleased to announce the selection of Grayville Community Unit School District No. 1 Superintendent Sarah Emery as the region’s Superintendent of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year. Ms. Emery, who has served as Grayville superintendent for nine (9) years, will represent school superintendents from seven Southern Illinois counties in the statewide Illinois Association of School Administrators’ Superintendent of the Year and Superintendent of Distinction award programs. Emery received the award at the Division’s regular meeting on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.
“We are pleased to have an experienced veteran like Ms. Emery representing our group,” selection committee member and Sesser-Valier Superintendent Jason Henry said in a written statement issued Friday. “Sarah has devoted her career to public service through education, beginning her career as a special education teacher and now guiding a community school district. Throughout her career, she has led her district by example, nurturing and mentoring her local and regional colleagues and personally engaging in statewide education leadership initiatives like IASA’s Vision 20/20. She’s a service-based, wise superintendent.”
Emery’s award selection comes at a critical time in public education in Illinois. “Sarah embodies the idea of hard work, dedication, and progressive education,” Pinckneyville High School Superintendent and Egyptian Division President Keith Hagene said. “She’s not only strong in the functional areas of school administration, but she thrives on seeing kids succeed. Genuine leaders like Sarah are continually working together, mostly behind-the-scenes, to make a difference for students. Sarah is a leader’s leader, and we’re proud that she can represent our region through this award.”
The Egyptian Division of IASA, the regional branch of the statewide superintendents’ association, serves district superintendents in Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Perry, Washington, Wayne, and White counties.
