Nicole Conley, chief financial officer with Texas’ Austin Independent School District, recently received the 2019 Bill Wise Award, sponsored by the Council of the Great City Schools and Educators Network of America. The award is given to a school business official who exemplifies professionalism, integrity, and outstanding service in urban education.

Conley received the award during the Council’s annual Chief Financial Officers Conference held in Austin.

Conley joined the district in 2009 and as CFO, she manages the school system’s financial operations. Under her leadership, the district has secured some of the highest financial ratings by multiple ratings agencies, including a superior rating by the state of Texas.

The Bill Wise Award was established in 2000 and is named for an outstanding financial leader from the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.

Also receiving an award was Florida’s School District of Palm Beach County, which won the Making Strides To­gether Curriculum Award for Excellence in Urban Education.

Sponsored by the Council and Curriculum Associates, the award recognizes Council mem­ber districts for successfully implementing cross-functional initiatives to improve stu­dent achievement.

Palm Beach won for its Systems Analysis/Master Schedule (SAMS), an initiative to ensure that underrepresented students from specific demographics or minority groups have equity of access to and systems of support for, academic success in advanced and accelerated coursework.

The award comes with a $4,000 prize that will be used to support a district initiative in the Palm Beach school system.