FOR RELEASE: September 21, 2023

CONTACT: Tonya Harris

Council Names Finalists for Urban Educator of the Year

WASHINGTON, September 21 – The Council of the Great City Schools announced the five urban school board members selected as finalists for the 2023 Green-Garner Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in urban education leadership and is presented to an urban school superintendent and board member in alternative years.

Sponsored by the Council and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, the Green-Garner Award is given each year in memory 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.

The 2023 winner will be announced at the 34^th Annual Green-Garner Awards Banquet during the Council’s 67^th Annual Fall Conference, Oct. 26, 2023, in San Diego.

The five finalists for the 2023 Green-Garner Award are:

• Marcia Andrews, school board member, The School District of Palm Beach County
• Valerie Davis, school board trustee, Fresno Unified School District
• Warren Jones, school board member, Duval County Public Schools,
• Michael O'Neill, school committee member, Boston Public Schools
• Joyce Wilkerson, school board member, The School District of Philadelphia

“Congratulations to this year’s Green-Garner Award finalists who are all deserving of this prestigious honor,” said Council Executive Director Ray Hart. “School board members play a vital role in educating the nation’s urban schoolchildren, and we thank them for their leadership, commitment, and dedication to the students, parents, and communities they represent.”

The winner of the award receives a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a student from their school district. Last year’s winner was Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

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