Administrator of the Year Program
2025 Administrator of the Year Awards
Arts Administrator of the Year - Mike Mulder, MOC-Floyd Valley
Central Office Administrator of the Year - Peggy Murphy, Marion
Elementary Principal of the Year - Jayme Braida, Chariton
High School Principal of the Year - Nicole Roder, Rock Valley
Middle School Principal of the Year - Paul Gebel, Denver
Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year - Derek Schulte, Pella
Superintendent of the Year - Darwin Lehmann, Forest City and Central Springs
2026 Award Nomination Process
- Nominations for 2026 awards opens March 1, 2025 and close April 1. Review respective award criteria before making a nomination.
- Nominations are first reviewed at the SAI District level, then each of the nine SAI Districts may submit one nominee per category to the SAI office for consideration. Nominees who are selected to move forward in the process will be contacted and provided with application materials after May 1. This four-page application with three supporting letters is due at the SAI office by June 30.
- A committee of peers will review the formal applications received in each award category, invite three finalists for an interview and select the award recipient.
- Recipients are recognized at the association's Annual Conference.
Submit Nomination for 2026 Administrator of the Year
Award Criteria
Guidelines for eligibility and the process for selecting each award's recipients
- Arts
- Assistant Elementary Principal (containing some portion of grades PK-8)
- Assistant Secondary Principal (containing some portion of grades 6-12)
- Central Office (includes AEA directors)
- Elementary Principal
- Middle School Principal
- High School Principal
- Superintendent (includes AEA chief administrators)
Deadlines
The official SAI district nominee's completed application must arrive at the SAI office by June 30 for all awards. (See nominations above.)