Miami Superintendent Receives 21st Annual Save The Music Foundation Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education

lwade@aasa.org

Award Presented During AASA’s National Conference on Education

Nashville, TN – February 14, 2026 – Dr. Jose L. Dotres of Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami, FL, is the 2026 recipient of the Save The Music Foundation’s (STM) 21st Annual Administrator Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education.

This prestigious award was presented at the National Conference on Education, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

This award recognizes one superintendent or school district CEO who has exhibited outstanding commitment to restoring music education in his or her school district. Dr. Dotres was chosen for his unwavering devotion to providing students across the community of Miami-Dade County with a well-rounded education that includes music.

“Music education is not an extracurricular—it is an essential part of a well-rounded education,” said Dr. Jose L. Dotres. “Through our committed partnership with Save The Music Foundation, we have expanded comprehensive music education in a deliberate, scaled approach—ensuring that students, particularly those with limited resources, have access to high-quality music instruction taught by qualified educators and musicians during the regular school day. I am grateful for a partnership that helps us bring the power of music to more students across our community.” Over the past 9 years, STM has supported Miami-Dade County’s investment in K-12 comprehensive music education across the district with musical instrument and technology grants, music teacher professional development, and ongoing program support, totaling more than $2.75M to date. This project is fueled by a strategic partnership with Dr. Dotres, who has pledged to ensure every student in the district has equitable access to music education taught by qualified teachers as part of the regular school day.

“Through Superintendent Dotres’s leadership, all students across Miami-Dade County Public Schools have the opportunity to express themselves through music making in school,” said Chiho Feindler, Chief Program Officer for Save The Music Foundation. “We are thrilled to celebrate him with this national honor and look forward to our continued partnership.”

With Save The Music Foundation grants, 57 Miami-Dade County schools have been able to expand their music programs. Students now have access to new instruments and music technology without the worry of financial burden being a barrier to them participating in the arts.

Past recipients of this award include: Dr. Adrienne Battle, superintendent, Metro Nashville School District (TN); Dr. Amy J Carter, superintendent, Meridian Public School District (MS); Christopher Downing, superintendent, Anaheim Elementary School District (CA); Elizabeth Lolli, superintendent, Dayton Public Schools (OH); Leon Rogers, superintendent, Newark Public Schools (NJ); Keely Roberts, superintendent, Zion Elementary District 6 (IL); Francisco Escobedo, superintendent, Chula Vista Elementary School District (CA.); Nancy Sarra, superintendent, Consolidated School District of New Britain (CT); Kevin George, superintendent, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools (LA); Russell Freitas, superintendent, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District (CA); Kristi Wilson, superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District (AZ); Reginald Mayo, retired superintendent, New Haven Public Schools (CT); Rita Bishop, superintendent, Roanoke City Public Schools (VA); Kathy L. Kelly, superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools (MN); Duncan N. P. “Pat” Pritchett Jr., former superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools (IN); John Lange, former superintendent, Adams County School District 14 (CO); Carol Johnson, former superintendent, Memphis City Schools (TN) and current superintendent, Boston Public Schools (MA); Richard Kaplan, superintendent, New Brunswick Public Schools (NJ); Eugene White, retired superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools (IN); and James A. Williams, former superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools (NY).

The AASA National Conference on Education is the premier national event for superintendents and K–12 school system leaders, hosted by AASA. It offers professional development, leadership insights, and networking to support student achievement and district excellence. NCE is one of the largest national gatherings of superintendents, attracting over 4,000 education leaders from all 50 states. 

About Save The Music Foundation:

Save The Music Foundation (STM) is an independent 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to helping students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. Since 1997, STM has worked to address systemic inequities in music education by investing in culturally rich American communities - supporting music teachers and donating musical instruments, equipment and technology to public schools. Numerous studies show students who receive music education demonstrate improved math and verbal performance.* To date, the organization has donated over $78 million worth of instruments, equipment and technology to over 2,900 schools across hundreds of school districts, impacting the lives of millions of students nationwide.

*National Library of Medicine, Harvard, University of the Pacific

STM Press Contacts:

• Lisa Gottheil (Grandstand), lisag@grandstandhq.com
• Kate Jackson (Grandstand); katej@grandstandhq.com
• Hallie Cross (Save The Music), hallie.cross@savethemusic.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.