Anticipation will fill the air on the evening of Oct. 23, when the top honor for urban-education leadership will be announced at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 68th annual Fall Conference in Philadelphia.

Four big-city school board members are finalists for the Green-Garner Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in urban education. Sponsored by the Council and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, the award is presented annually, in alternate years, to either an outstanding urban school superintendent or school board member.

“The school board members who are finalists this year have played a vital role in the advancement of urban schools across the nation,” said Council Executive Director Ray Hart. “These outstanding individuals have dedicated themselves to ensuring our students achieve high educational standards. We thank them for their leadership, commitment, and service. Congratulations!”

The four finalists for the 2025 Green-Garner Award are 

• Marcia Andrews, School Board Member, the School District of Palm Beach County;
• Valerie Davis, School Board Member, Fresno Unified School District;
• Erika Mitchell, School Board Member, Atlanta Public Schools; and
• Joyce Wilkerson, School Board Member, the School District of Philadelphia

The Green-Garner Award is given in honor of Richard R. Green, the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system, and businessman Edward Garner, who served on the Denver school board. This year’s award will be presented at the Excellence in Urban Education Awards Ceremony on Oct. 23. The winner will receive a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a graduating senior from their school system.

Last year’s Green-Garner Award winner was Romules Durant, CEO/Superintendent of Ohio’s Toledo Public Schools.