Madison's Tim Ham AZ Superintendent of the Year

PHOENIX, Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Tim Ham, Madison School District Superintendent, has been selected as Arizona's Superintendent of the Year and will be the Arizona representative to the American Association of School Administrator's (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year award selection committee.

The award will be presented during a luncheon at the Arizona School Boards Association/Arizona School Administrators Annual Conference at the Biltmore Conference Center on Thursday, December 12, 2013. The Arizona Superintendent of the Year award is administered by Arizona School Administrators, Inc. and supported by Classworks a division of Curriculum Advantage, Inc.

"I'm honored both to receive this award and to represent Arizona," Ham said, "but leadership doesn't happen in a vacuum and I have the good fortune to work with an outstanding team." Ham's leadership skills can be articulated best through his actions and results in achievement in the Madison Elementary School District. An urban district located in central Phoenix, Madison is comprised of eight schools serving nearly 6,000 students, with 45% of its population receiving free and reduced lunch. Madison has earned the distinction of being the only elementary district in Phoenix to be "A" rated by the Department of Education and is the first and only elementary district in Arizona to become  "Internationally Accredited" through AdvancED.

"We're very proud of Dr. Ham," said Kendra Tollackson, Madison Governing Board President. "His focus on collaboration, transparency and creating efficient systems has empowered Madison students, teachers, and staff to excel despite the challenges of state budget cuts."

Dr. Ham initiated a Systems Approach when he joined the district as superintendent in July 2007 to focus on quality assurance and continuous improvement. Ham's colleagues praise his leadership, citing his "effectiveness through seeking first to understand, ethical and moral conduct and leadership development."

"A strong public education system is critical to the success of any democracy and is the key to economic prosperity," said Ham. "Being the Arizona Superintendent of the Year is certainly one of the highlights of my career, but my greatest reward is visiting Madison classrooms where I get to see tomorrow's leaders as they learn today."

About Madison School District

Madison is an "A" labeled destination school district in the heart of Phoenix that is Internationally Accredited by AdvancED. Established in 1890, Madison honors its tradition of excellence as it looks forward to the future by implementing a variety of initiatives and programs for students to ensure Extraordinary Learning for All. Madison's eight schools provide a program of public education from pre-kindergarten through grade eight, with an estimated current enrollment of approximately 6,000 students. Madison's community spans a wide socio-economic range and reflects the ethnic diversity of the city as a whole. Neighborhoods in the area have been highlighted in Phoenix Home and Garden and Money magazines, with both publications listing the local public schools as one of the reasons they are so desirable. The Arizona Republic referred to Madison as, "...the best performing Elementary District in Phoenix," and this standard of excellence has led to 44% of Madison students coming from outside district boundaries through open enrollment. For more information, visit madisonaz.org. Follow Madison on Twitter at twitter.com/MadisonAZ or on Facebook at facebook.com/MadisonAZ.

About Arizona School Administrators

Arizona School Administrators, Inc. is a non-profit corporation organized to promote the best interests of education in the state of Arizona. ASA works to advance the roles of administrative leaders by providing training and support services for its membership. The organization attracts talented individuals to the field and disseminates research related to current education issues. Its membership serves as a voice in the legislature, in their communities, and in other organizations promoting educational improvements that benefit students and schools. For more information, visit azasa.org.

About AASA

AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 10,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. For more information, visit www.aasa.org. Follow AASA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AASAHQ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AASApage. Information on AASA Children's Programs on Twitter @AASATotalChild.

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SOURCE Madison School District