Daniel A. Domenech Scholarship
Daniel A. Domenech,
AASA Executive Director,
2008-2023
In 2020, AASA launched the Aspiring Superintendents Academy®️ for Latino and Latina Leaders. During recruitment for each academy year, we found that over 15% of accepted applicants did not enroll due to financial hardship. To alleviate this challenge and reiterate our commitment to our Latino and Latina educators, we are pleased to announce the Daniel A. Domenech Scholarship.
This scholarship supports aspiring superintendents who, due to financial hardship, are unable to participate in the Aspiring Superintendents Academy®️ for Latino and Latina Leaders.
This needs-based scholarship provides two recipients with up to $3,500 in financial support to attend the academy.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be AASA members who identify as Hispanic and/or Latino/a
- Submit an application to participate in the 2025-26 Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino And Latina Leaders. The Scholarship section can be found included as part of the Academy application.
Each application will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Commitment to equity and excellence in public education
- Plans for applying academy learnings in their work and professional goals
- Financial need
Applications are now open! Apply by May 5, 2025.
2024:
- Shajaira Lopez | Director of Teaching and Learning at Puyallup School District 3 (Wash.)
- Jamie Garza | Programs Director at American Falls Joint School District 381 (Ind.)
*2023:
- Carlos Cotto | Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Equity and Engagement at Schenectady City School District (N.Y.)
- Evelyn Cruz | Principal at Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design (Col.)
- Mirta Karina Smith | Equity, Diversty and Inclusion Director at McMinnville School District 40 (Ore.)
- Alma Gonzalez | Area Executive Director at Pflugerville Independent School District (Texas)
- Maria Arroyo | Principal at Joliet Public School District 86 (Ill.)
*Through the generosity of the Frank and Shirley Dick Trust and Imagine Learning, AASA was able to support 5 recipients for the 2023-2024 academy year.
Daniel A. Domenech is a native of Cuba who spent more than half a century in public education, including 27 years as a superintendent and 15 years as the executive director of AASA. Dan dedicated his professional career to be a champion for all children.
He began his teaching career in New York City, where he taught sixth grade in a predominantly black and Hispanic community in South Jamaica, Queens. An AASA member since 1979, he served as president of AASA from July 1998 to June 1999. He served as executive director of AASA from 2008 to 2023.
