AASA Announces 2026 Women in School Leadership Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lara Wade
Director of Communications
Mobile: (813) 833-1498
lwade@aasa.org

Alexandria, Va. – February 13, 2026 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 Women in School Leadership Awards.

As part of a long-standing tradition to create more pathways for women who wish to enter the field of education administration, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 AASA Women in School Leadership Awards.

The awards, sponsored by Horace Mann and AASA, pay tribute to the talent, creativity and vision of outstanding women educational administrators in our nation’s public schools. Today’s announcement was made at AASA’s National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee.

The winners for each category are:

Central Office/Principal Category

• Janeen Peretin, assistant to the superintendent, Baldwin-Whitehall School District (Pa.)

Superintendent Category

• Myriam Rogers, superintendent, Baltimore County Public Schools (Md.)

“Horace Mann is proud to partner with AASA to celebrate these exceptional women leaders in education,” said Marita Zuraitis, president of Horace Mann Educators Corporation. “Their passion and leadership make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve and inspire students and educators alike. We’re honored to recognize their lasting impact and continued excellence.”

“The AASA Women in School Leadership Awards were created for amazing leaders like our honorees and winners today,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “They have a wealth of knowledge and an unwavering dedication to student success, staff development, and innovation in K-12 education. We are proud to recognize these educators and showcase their outstanding achievements and successes. We thank Horace Mann for supporting this important program.”

Award finalists were announced November 20, 2025 and evaluated on their leadership in meeting the learning needs of students, personal and organizational communication strength, constant professional improvement of knowledge and skills, and active community involvement.

For more information about the Women in School Leadership Awards, please visit the AASA website or contact Jennifer Rooney, AASA senior director of meetings and awards, at jrooney@aasa.org.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 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 equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.

About Horace Mann
Horace Mann Educators Corporation is the largest financial services company focused on helping America's educators and others who serve the community achieve lifelong financial success. The company offers individual and group insurance and financial solutions tailored to the needs of the educator community. Founded by Educators for Educators® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois.