Gadsden Independent School District in New Mexico received the Southern Regional Education Board’s District Leadership Award for long-term commitment to continuous improvement at its schools, leading to improved achievement for students.  

The district will be presented with the award July 18 at the 2023 Making Schools Work Conference in Orlando, Florida. 

SREB’s District Leadership Award recognizes local school districts that implement continuous improvement processes that help schools transform their school and classroom practices, establish and sustain change, and increase student achievement. 

For more than a decade, Gadsden Independent School district has raised its expectations with the belief that every child can be successful with the right support. As a result, student performance has risen.  

SREB technical assistance visits, career pathway reviews and curriculum and instructional reviews have helped the district with strong strategic planning to meet their goals. Gadsden has implemented a professional learning community and project-based learning, among other strategies. 

“Gadsden embodies a continuous improvement culture, and their students are winners because of that,” said Gary Wrinkle, SREB director of state and district partnerships. “From the superintendent to campus principals to teachers, what sets them apart is a willingness to examine current practice, seek feedback, learn from it and make adjustments ─ always with the attitude that they can continue to do more to improve student outcomes.”   

The Southern Regional Education Board works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through postsecondary education. SREB’s annual Making Schools Work Conference provides educators opportunities to participate in professional development, network with colleagues from across the country and build school and district leadership capacity. 

SREB media contact: Janita Poe, SREB News Manager, (404) 879-5516.