Mineola School Superintendent Named Finalist For National Award

MINEOLA, NY — Just a few months removed from being named New York's superintendent of the year, the head of the Mineola Union Free School District has been named one of just four finalists for the 2020 national award.

The district on Tuesday announced that Superintendent Michael Nagler was named a finalist by The School Superintendents Association for National Superintendent of the Year. The award recognizes school system leaders nationwide who are making a positive difference in the lives of the students they serve.

"This announcement represents an opportunity for AASA to recognize the tremendous work and outstanding leadership carried out by four ambassadors of public education who I would refer to as 'champions for children,'" Daniel Domenech, the organization's executive director, said in a news release. "The National Superintendent of the Year program celebrates both these education thought leaders and the critical role public education plays in our society."

Nagler's performance was measured using the following criteria:

• Leadership for learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in the school system
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team
• Community involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national and international issues

A $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the winner to a student in the high school from which the superintendent graduated, or the school now serving the same area.

The winner will be announced during the organization's national education conference Feb. 13-15 in San Diego.

Nagler previously said he believes strongly in Mineola's mission statement to "create lifelong learners who contribute positively to a global society." He added there is "nothing more satisfying" than being in a classroom and watching staff and students fully immersed and engaged in a lesson.

Nagler credited the Mineola Board of Education for embracing his ideas and sometimes "out-of-the-box" approaches.

"I am humbled to receive this honor on behalf of Mineola's everyday heroes," he said after winning the state honor in October.

Nagler earned a doctorate in education from Columbia University and has been in education for more than three decades. He began his career in the New York City school system and later became an assistant principal. In 1999, he joined Mineola as assistant principal of its middle school, then later served as its high school principal and deputy superintendent. He became superintendent in 2009.