Luke Hallmark, Marengo County Superintendent of Education, has been selected as one of the top superintendents in Alabama; an honor he says is a direct reflection on the school system as a whole.

The School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and Classworks, an SSA Premium Business Sponsor, announced last week nine school superintendents as finalists for the 2009 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. All of the finalists will be recognized during the SSA Fall Conference in Hoover later this month.

Beginning his ninth year at the helm of the Marengo County School District, Hallmark said his nomination is more about the district’s success than him individually. “The success we have seen in Marengo County schools involves everyone,” he said. “We have a very supportive school board who wants us to be the best. We have solid administrators, facility, staff; and a good group of students and parents.”

Hallmark also attributed the recognition to the community support for each of the four county schools, Marengo, Sweet Water, John Essex and A.L. Johnson. “They believe what we are doing is right and show tremendous support for the schools,” he said. “All of these factors have contributed to our success and has enabled our schools to have strong academic, athletic programs and good facilities at all locations.”

Nominations for Superintendent of the Year were submitted from the regional districts throughout the state and a committee of educators and education representatives picked finalists.

Statewide judging of Alabama’s nine finalists will take place later this month with the Alabama 2009 Superintendent of the Year being announced the first week in November. The winner will be honored at a statewide Classworks sponsored luncheon on February 3.

Classworks will also provide the state winner with a Superintendent of the Year ring and travel expenses to the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference on Education, February 19-21, in San Francisco, CA.

At the national conference, Alabama’s winner will receive a bronze medallion with the Superintendent of the Year emblem and a plaque from the AASA, SSA’s national affiliate and national sponsor of the program. Each state’s winner will be recognized during the conference where the national winner for 2009 will be announced.