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 2026-27 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 in April 2027. They do not have to be ACSA members; however, Region winners must be ACSA members.
Complete Nomination Packets must be submitted by January 21, 2027 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 2026-27 program open | August 1, 2026 |
| Training at the region level | August 2026 |
| 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, 2026 – January 21, 2027 |
| Region 6 Nomination Committee meets to review nominations of Charter winners and select Region winners | February 2, 2027 |
| ACSA State deadline for Region nominations. Region winners become finalists for State Awards. | February 11, 2027 |
| ACSA Region 6 Awards Dinner All Region 6 nominees and winners will be honored. |
April 2027 |
2026 ACSA Region 6 Administrators of the Year Awards Dinner April 23, 2026
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ACSA Administrator of the Year Awards 2026
Congratulations to all Region 6 nominees and winners!
Superintendent
Adam Clark, Mt. Diablo USD
Zack Larsen, Fremont USD
Janet Schulze, Pittsburg USD (Region 6 Winner)
Secondary Principal
Kevin Ahern, San Ramon Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Steve Amaro, Liberty UHSD
Clark Conover, Livermore Valley JUSD
Rocquel Colbert, West Contra Costa USD
Kelly Cooper, Mt. Diablo USD
Middle Grades Principal
Matt Burnham, West Contra Costa USD
Kerry Cusack, Martinez USD
Marco Lopez, Pleasanton USD
Nicole Sandoval, San Lorenzo USD
Danielle Winford, Pittsburg USD (Region 6 Winner)
Elementary Principal
Kyle Anderson, Byron USD
Stella Castillo, New Haven USD
Thomas Fletcher, Livermore Valley JUSD
Delnaz Hosseini, Castro Valley USD
Osi Juergens, San Ramon Valley USD
Kathleen Koontz, Mt. Diablo USD
Jeanette McNeil, San Leandro USD
Stephanie Sanchez, West Contra Costa USD
Bethannee Witczak, Dublin USD (Region 6 Winner)
Central Office Administrator
Jawan Eldridge, West Contra Costa USD
Kathryn Fireman, Mt. Diablo USD
Anika Hardy, Alameda COE (Region 6 Winner)
Kathrine Ingalls, Antioch USD
Zetta Reicker, San Ramon Valley USD
Secondary Co-Administrator
Tracy Fields, Castro Valley USD
Jami Greer, Acalanes UHSD
Jason Krikava, Martinez USD
DarVisa Marshall, Antioch USD
Natalie Moreno, Pittsburg USD
Daniel Musselman, Livermore Valley JUSD (Region 6 Winner)
Anthony Pava, New Haven USD
Middle Grades Co-Administrator
Stephen Anderson, San Ramon Valley USD
Adria Ibarra, San Ramon Valley USD
Blair Krug, West Contra Costa USD (Region 6 Winner)
Michelle Seugling, Livermore Valley JUSD
Elementary Co-Administrator
Sheri Bennett, San Ramon Valley USD
Erika Brown, Dublin USD (Region 6 Winner)
Jessica Erickson, Antioch USD
Julie France, Brentwood USD
Lisa Jako, West Contra Costa USD
Edmund Perryman, Mt. Diablo USD
Classified Leader
Aaron Ackerman, Castro Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
John McTear, Oakley ESD
Confidential Employee
Emily Cooper, Brentwood USD
Tiffany McIver, Contra Costa COE
Krista Richey, Castro Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Personnel Human Resources Administrator
Dustin Gacherieu, Castro Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
Melanie Jones, San Ramon Valley USD
Erin Roberts, Oakley ESD
Adult Education Administrator
Lisa Gonzalves, Fremont USD (Region 6 Winner)
Career Technical Administrator
Leslie Marley, Contra Costa COE
Jessica Petrilli, West Contra Costa USD
Suzanne Smith, Tri-Valley ROP (Region 6 Winner)
Special Education Administrator
Doris Kwok Dellenback, Castro Valley USD
Justine Melendez, Brentwood USD
Jessica Phillips, Mt. Diablo USD
Olivia Rangel, Alameda COE (Region 6 Winner)
Business Services Administrator
Anca Buzatu, Castro Valley USD
Tracy Dreher, Livermore Valley JUSD
Dina Stewart, Liberty UHSD (Region 6 Winner)
Student Services Administrator
Tracie Christmas, Livermore Valley JUSD
Phung Lai, Castro Valley USD
Kelly Mackey, Byron USD
Emily Nathan, San Leandro USD
Rosie Reid, Mt. Diablo USD (Region 6 Winner)
Curriculum & Instruction Administrator
Chris Connor, Livermore Valley JUSD
Mikey McKelvey, New Haven USD (Region 6 Winner)
Jan Rogenski, Walnut Creek SD
Natasha Thomas, Antioch USD
Kristy Warren, Contra Costa COE
Continuation/Ed Options Administrator
Jessica Goode, Alameda COE
Edith Jordan-McCormick, West Contra Costa USD
Coleen Martin, Mt. Diablo USD (Region 6 Winner)
Patty O’Malley, Martinez USD
Stephanie Palmeri Farias, Fremont USD
Retired Administrator
Richard Lloyd (Region 6 Winner)
Nadine Rosenzweig
Technology Administrator
Laurie Wong Roberts, West Contra Costa USD (Region 6 Winner)
Valuing Diversity Award
Zetha Nobles, New Haven USD (Region 6 Winner)
Partners in Educational Excellence Award
Castro Valley Arts Foundation (Region 6 Winner)
Robert E Kelly Award
Vivienne Paratore, Castro Valley USD (Region 6 Winner)
ACSA State Awards
Ferd Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award Nominee
Maurice Ghysels, Pleasanton USD