Dr. Gladys I. Cruz, District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Questar III BOCES, will be honored with the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) Excellence in District Leadership Award on Wednesday, April 13th, at the CASDA Annual Awards Dinner being held at Franklin Terrace in Troy, New York. CASDA presents this award to recognize the selfless contributions of individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, vision and commitment in serving students and educational institutions.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cruz has exemplified the highest values of educational leadership. She has tirelessly advocated for greater opportunities for girls and women in STEM fields by establishing programs encouraging young women to study medicine, engineering and engage in scientific research. Dr. Cruz has also pursued partnerships with both Hudson Valley Community College and the University at Albany, including a high school at HVCC that provides opportunities to students from underserved communities. Throughout the past two years, Dr. Cruz has worked with local and county agencies and the business community in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties to ensure the safety of students, educators and community members in her schools.
Dr. Cruz’s dedication to “putting students first” has made her a nationally recognized leader as she was recently elected President of the AASA (National School Superintendent’s Organization). Her commitment, creativity, and advocacy have made her a leader amongst leaders and an ideal recipient of CASDA’s Excellence in District Leadership Award.
About CASDA
The Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA), a non-profit organization, is upstate New York’s premier educational technical assistance center. For more than 70 years, CASDA has served educators and students in more than 100 New York State school districts. CASDA’s mission is to serve as a catalyst, convener, community developer and capacity builder for educators and the communities they
