News Release
Contact:
Caroline McIntosh
775-463-6800
cmcintosh@lyon.k12.nv.us
WCSD's Heath Morrison Named Nevada Superintendent of the Year
Lyon County, NV (July 25, 2011) - For his persistence and commitment to improving the lives of Nevada's children through education, the Nevada Association of School Superintendents (NASS) named Washoe County School District Superintendent Heath Morrison as the Nevada Superintendent of Year. Morrison will represent the state of Nevada in the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) 2012 National Superintendent of the Year Program, which pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation's public schools.
"I am truly honored to receive this award from my colleagues in this great state of Nevada," Morrison said. "We all believe there is an urgent need to reform education in our state and I look forward to working together to make that happen."
Nevada's 17 superintendents honored Morrison with the title of Nevada Superintendent of the Year during the NASS meeting in June.
NASS President and Lyon County School District Superintendent Caroline McIntosh said the organization was proud to have Morrison as Nevada's representative. "During his time in Washoe County School District, Dr. Morrison has been a catalyst for school reform to increase student achievement for all students in Washoe County and the state of Nevada. Dr. Morrison is a true game changer in public education."
Nye County School District Superintendent Dr. Rob Roberts described Morrison as daring, bold and courageous. "Heath Morrison is a true leader by any other name and I am proud to call him my friend."
In 2009, the WCSD Board of Trustees called for education reform in its District that represents 63,000 students in 94 schools in Northern Nevada. The Board selected Morrison as the new WCSD superintendent in the spring of 2009 and charged him with carrying out a reform plan that would increase the District's graduation rate and truly prepare all of its students for higher education and highly-skilled careers.
After one year in the position and hundreds of conversations and meetings with parents, educators and community members, Morrison introduced Envision WCSD 2015 - Investing In Our Future, the WCSD's five-year strategic plan. The plan detailed specific action steps and plans to improve the quality of education in the Washoe County School District. Under Morrison's leadership, the WCSD witnessed a seven percentage-point increase in its graduation rate for the Class of 2010 and state proficiency test scores in math and reading showed significant improvement in 2010 for grades three through eight.
Morrison also has emerged as a strong advocate for education at the state level. He served on the Nevada Education Reform Blue Ribbon Task Force, which was formed in 2010, to guide and oversee Nevada's Race to the Top application-Nevada's Promise: Excellence, Rigor, and Equity-and to facilitate public and private discussion and consensus for overall reform of public education for Nevada's children.
Statewide advocate for children and education Elaine Wynn, who worked with Morrison on the task force, said, "Heath Morrison came into our state during a time of crisis, bringing with him qualities that we were in desperate need of: intelligence, experience, common sense, compassion, determination, and most of all, courage. His leadership in Washoe County has served as a basis of hope for all of Nevada. He became an instrument of far-reaching dramatic education reform. Heath is to be congratulated for all that he has done and continues to do."
Morrison has also made it his mission to better engage the community in the state's public education system, saying everyone must work together to ensure the next generation is prepared to be the highly-skilled workforce the state needs.
"I congratulate Superintendent Morrison on his selection as the Nevada Association of School Superintendents' Superintendent of the Year," Governor Brian Sandoval said. "Dr. Morrison has been a vocal champion on behalf of education in Washoe County and in Nevada and I applaud his efforts."
The AASA 2012 National Superintendent of the Year will be announced in February 2012. The candidates are judged on leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.
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About the Nevada Association of School Superintendents: The Nevada Association of School Superintendents includes district superintendents from all 17 K-12 school districts in Nevada. NASS provides a forum for superintendents to work collaboratively on behalf of all students in the state - rural and urban. NASS is committed to the goal of graduating all students in Nevada prepared for college and careers in the 21st Century
