BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Bentonville School District Superintendent Debbie Jones has been named a finalist for the 2025 AASA National Superintendent of the Year award, according to a press release.
"I'm so thrilled," Jones said. "It's a great honor, and it's such a great honor for this whole team. We work with such incredible leaders who are creative and they solve the problems of the district and have great ideas. Their work is just represented in this award."
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, announced its four finalists on Dec. 16. Jones is competing against superintendents from Alabama, Illinois, and Florida.
"These extraordinary leaders embody the transformative power of public education," AASA Executive Director David Schuler said. "Their visionary leadership is creating dynamic opportunities for students, uplifting communities, and advancing the promise of public education as the foundation of our democracy."
Jones was nominated for the national award by the state association after being named Arkansas Superintendent of the Year in September 2024.
She said the national nomination is a testament to the resilience of the Bentonville School District.
"I'm really proud that every year together, we have been able to face the challenges," Jones said "We've been able to weather the storms and still grow and get better and expand career internship opportunities and expand really rigorous, wonderful coursework and experiences and field trips. From the challenges, we've gotten better."
AASA narrowed down the 49 nominations by measuring each superintendent's leadership skills, communication skills, professionalism, and community involvement.
The four finalists will be introduced at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, according to AASA.
The Superintendent of the Year will be officially announced during AASA's National Conference on Education, which is being held in New Orleans from March 6 through March 8.
In the winner's honor, a $10,000 college scholarship will be presented to a student from the high school that the superintendent graduated from or currently serves.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.