Each year members Region 6 nominates exemplary individuals for numerous awards ACSA sponsors. These awards recognize individuals and bring distinction to the individual’s school/district. For more information, visit state ACSA’s About Us page and click on the Awards Program tab.
The 2025-26 ACSA Award Program is open for nominations on August 1, 2025. Nomination forms are available on the ACSA Awards Platform. Watch a short demo of the online platform to find out how you can nominate your colleagues, or read frequently asked questions.
All Charter winners will be recognized at the Region 6 Awards Dinner on April 23, 2026. They do not have to be ACSA members; however, Region winners must be ACSA members.
Complete Nomination Packets must be submitted by January 22, 2026 to be considered for Region 6 and State recognition.
Awards include:
- Ferd Kiesel Distinguished Service Award
- Marcus Foster Memorial Award
- Robert E. Kelly Retiree Award
- Administrators of the Year – nominees are honored in job-alike categories
- Valuing Diversity Award – member whose work in promoting diversity epitomizes ACSA’s mission
- Partners in Educational Excellence – programs and businesses that collaborate to support education
One letter of recommendation must be included with nomination
Timeline
| Nominations for 2025-26 program open | August 1, 2025 |
| Training at the region level | August 2025 |
| Work with Charter President on your Charter’s nomination process. Each charter determines its charter winners submitted to Region 6. Charter winners become Region nominees. Charter Presidents must be notified of all nominations.
Contact ">Rose Lock, Region 6 Executive Director with any questions. Nominee must upload a headshot photo (in JPEG format and nominee’s name as file name) to a link to be provided. Charter Presidents should submit a list of their charter winners and nominees to Rose Lock and Vice President of Programs ">Paulette Smith by January 22, 2026. Note: Online platform closes on this date. |
August 1, 2025 – January 22, 2026 |
| Region 6 Nomination Committee meets to review nominations of Charter winners and select Region winners | January 27, 2026 |
| ACSA State deadline for Region nominations. Region winners become finalists for State Awards. | February 12, 2026 |
| ACSA Region 6 Awards Dinner All Region 6 nominees and winners will be honored. |
April 23, 2026 |
2024 ACSA Region 6 Administrators of the Year Awards Dinner April 17, 2024
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ACSA Administrator of the Year Awards 2025
Congratulations to all Region 6 nominees and winners!
Superintendent
Crystal Castaneda, Byron ESD (Region 6 Winner)
Alysse Castro, Alameda COE
Secondary Principal
Demetrius Ball, San Ramon Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Maite Barloga, San Leandro USD
Kesha Emmendorfer, Martinez USD
Jenaver Goodman, Alameda COE
Alexis Meron, San Lorenzo USD
Roxana Mohammed, Livermore USD
Amy Perez, Fremont USD
Finy Prak, West Contra Costa USD
Kirstin Snyder, Alameda USD
Middle Grades Principal
Ramon Camacho, New Haven USD
Russell Campisi, Pleasanton USD
Vanessa Fortney, Pittsburg USD
Sandy Kontilis, San Ramon Valley USD
Jason Law, Walnut Creek ESD
Eric Peterson, West Contra Costa USD
Sherry Strausbaugh, Fremont USD (Region 6 Winner)
Erik Taylor, Livermore USD
Elementary Principal
Lynnette Chirrick, Alameda USD
Roxane Jablonski-Liu, Oakley Union ESD
Kathy LaCome, San Lorenzo USD
Lisa MacLean, Castro Valley USD
Ryan Maloney, San Ramon Valley USD
Tamekia McCauley, Mt. Diablo USD
Lauren McGovern, Dublin USD
Valerie Nebo, Livermore USD
Taylor Parham, West Contra Costa USD
Amy Romem, Walnut Creek ESD
Paulette Smith, San Leandro USD (Region 6 Winner)
Sherea Westra, Fremont USD
Central Office Administrator
Chip Dehnert, Dublin USD
Erin DeMartini, Mt. Diablo USD
Monica Dennis, Alameda COE
Christine Hatcher, West Contra Costa USD
Hong Nguyen, San Ramon Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Leonor Rebosura, Newark USD
Elie Wasser, Fremont USD
Kirsten Zazo, Alameda USD
Secondary Co-Administrator
Craig Bocks, San Ramon Valley USD
Erin Cicatelli, San Ramon Valley USD
Alicia Elbert, New Haven USD
Merrill Grimmer, Fremont USD
David Martinez, Livermore Valley JUSD (Region 6 Winner)
Samir Noor, Liberty Union HSD
Kathleen Stacy, Castro Valley USD
Abbey Wheeler, Brentwood Union SD
Elementary Co-Administrator
Jeremy Vilkins, Livermore Valley JUSD (Region 6 Winner)
Blaire Wyatt Mintz, San Ramon Valley USD
Marylou Young, San Ramon Valley USD
Classified Leader
Rebecca Ward, Acalanes UHSD
Personnel Human Resources Administrator
Matthew Chamberlain, Pittsburg USD (Region 6 Winner)
Adult Education Administrator
Joy Chua, Alameda USD
Heidi McFadden, Fremont USD (Region 6 Winner)
Sara Walke, Livermore Valley JUSD
Career Technical Administrator
Bill Branca, Dublin USD
Hilary Dito, Contra Costa COE (Region 6 Co-Winner)
Amos Nugent, Pleasanton USD (Region 6 Co-Winner)
Special Education Administrator
Angie Kojrekar, San Ramon Valley USD
Veronica Polk, Knightsen ESD (Region 6 Winner)
Julie Venuto, Alameda USD
Business Services Administrator
Suzanne Lefebvre, West Contra Costa USD
Rianne Pfaltzgraff, Oakley Union ESD (Region 6 Winner)
Student Services Administrator
Stacey Bamford, Fremont USD
Maria Bordanaro, Oakley Union ESD
James Parrish, San Leandro USD
Felicia Stuckey Smith, Mt Diablo USD (Region 6 Winner)
Curriculum & Instruction Administrator
Sonja Bell, West Contra Costa USD
Carla Estrada-Hidalgo, Livermore Valley JUSD
Kimberly Noble, San Lorenzo USD (Region 6 Winner)
Christopher Reddam, Moraga SD
Affie Sklut, Castro Valley USD
Sheri Sweeney, Dublin USD
Continuation/Ed Options Administrator
Rachel Hancock, Liberty UHSD
Sheila Jemo, Fremont USD (Region 6 Winner)
Courtney Lyon, Mt Diablo USD
Steve Martin, Livermore Valley JUSD
Technology Administrator
Kelly Hilton, San Ramon Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Jr. Yee, Pleasanton USD
Valuing Diversity Award
Chaunise Powell, Alameda COE (Region 6 Winner)
Heidi Deeringhoff, Pleasanton USD
Partners in Educational Excellence Award
Union City Family Center, New Haven USD (Region 6 Winner)
(State Awards, winner to be selected by state ACSA)
Marcus Foster Memorial Award
Kirstin Snyder, Alameda USD
Ferd Kiesel Distinguished Service Award
Katherine Crawford, Alameda USD