School & Community Awards

The Paul G. Orr Award is presented to a very few select individuals who, in the opinion of Association members, have made an outstanding contribution to education in the region. Dr. Paul G. Orr, Dean Emeritus of the College of Education at the University of Alabama, shaped many debates about the role of education in society. In these exchanges, he engaged persons associated with the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Overseas Schools and American-sponsored schools worldwide.

In every generation, there are those whose vision broadens our own, transforming the way we see the world. Dr. Paul G. Orr was such a person: a man who pointed us in new directions and built bridges for us to cross. He was a leader in the field of international education and an educator of leaders. Over the course of his remarkable career spanning four decades, Dr. Orr proved to be one of the most articulate and reasoned voices within American-sponsored overseas schools. He left an indelible mark on teachers, administrators and boards working in those schools through his writing, teaching, research and lectures, and as dean of the College of Education at the University of Alabama. He helped to mold the American schools that exist overseas today and is widely considered the leading authority on the subject.

Dr. Orr left an extraordinary legacy to the Association of American Schools of Central America, Colombia, the Caribbean and Mexico, and to all who care about education: students, teachers, parents, school board members, administrators and staff, policy makers, the public in general and, above all, overseas schools.

Paul G. Orr Award Recipients

• 1987 Dr. Shelby Counce
• 1988 Dr. Fred Vescolani
• 1989 Dr. Burton Fox
• 1990 Dr. Joseph Johnston
• 1991 Dr. John Schreck
• 1992 Dr. Mary Wayte
• 1993 Dr. Ronald Marino
• 1994 Dr. James Stiltner
• 1995 Dr. Ray Bruce
• 1996 Dr. Ernest Boyer
• 1997 Dr. Art Chaffee
• 1999 Dr. Salvadore Rinaldi
• 2000 The Overseas Schools Advisory Council
• 2001 Dr. Jeffrey Keller
• 2002 Dr. Keith Miller
• 2003 Mrs. Mary Virginia Sánchez
• 2004 Colegio Nueva Granada
• 2005 Mrs. Carolyn Brunner
• 2007 International School Services
• 2008 Dr. Barrie Jo Price
• 2009 Mr. Jack Delman
• 2010 Ms. Marie France Jean-Baptiste
• 2012 Children of Haiti Project
• 2013 Janet Heinze
• 2014 Dr. Ernie Mannino
• 2016 Mr. Robert Wilson / Dr. William Scotti
• 2017 Mr. Gerald Selitzer
• 2018 Mrs. Emma Gutiérrez de Salazar
• 2019 Mr. Tom Shearer
• 2020 Dr. Robin Heslip
• 2022 Mr. Mark Ulfers
• 2023 Dr. Sonia Keller
• 2024 Dr. Joe Nagy

 

 

Margaret Sanders dedicated her life to advancing international schools through her work with Walsworth Publishing with a focus on helping students achieve their goals. The Margaret Sanders Foundation was established to fund educational opportunities for members of the overseas schools community that she found within our AAIE family.

The many Regional Associations such as AASSA, CEESA, EARCOS, Tri-Association, ECIS, etc. will continue to vet these applications by region to ensure each region puts their best applicant and one alternate forward for these prestigious scholarships. Students in Grade 12 (attending University next year) are eligible to apply.

2023 Recipient

Congratulations Tania Van der Linden, Senior from the American School Foundation of Monterrey for being selected as a 2022 Margaret Sanders Scholarship winner, in recognition of successfully demonstrating exceptional character strengths such as persistence, motivation, resourcefulness, as well as acceptance of other cultures and for displaying a genuine interest in, and a sustained commitment to the welfare of others.

 

2021 Recipient

Congratulations María Alejandra Woo, for being selected as a 2021 Margaret Sanders Scholarship winner from a very competitive pool of candidates from the Tri-Association and AAIE international schools!

María is a Senior at Lincoln International Academy in Managua, Nicaragua.

 

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2019 Recipient

 

This award was created by the Association of American Schools in Mexico (ASOMEX),  to honor the memory and legacy of Emma Gutierrez de Salazar, who served as the General Director of the American School of Tampico.  Emma was a visionary leader who worked relentlessly to improve education in our region. The award is funded annually by ASOMEX and is  set up to support women in achieving educational leadership roles.

Applicants must be women who are host country nationals from a Tri-Association regular member school. The committee will award up to 4,000.00 USD for the selected applicant to take a course at the Principals’ Training Center in Florida, or participate in course work from an accredited university in the United States.

The scholarship will cover tuition, hotel and flight expenses to take one course during the summer for a total of 3 university credits. 

In order to be considered for the  Emma Gutierrez Leadership Award the applicant must:  

• Be a host country national woman currently working in a school that is a regular member of the Tri-Association.
• Be recommended for the scholarship in a letter from the Director/Superintendent of the school. 
• Prepare and submit a brief paper discussing why you are seeking the scholarship and what course(s) you plan to take if awarded the scholarship.
• Prepare and submit a biography that includes a record of the applicant’s educational preparation and employment experience as part of the application. The biography should be written in third person.
• The award will be presented at the Annual Educators’ Conference. 

Note: Applications will be sent to the heads of the schools in the region in February of every year. 

Emma Gutierrez Award Recipients:

• 2018: María de Lourdes García Martínez, MS Science Teacher of American School of Tampico.

• 2019: Karla Moya, Special education teacher from Country Day School in Costa Rica. 

• 2020: Rocio Acevedo de la Garza of American School of Tampico. 

•  2021: no award was presented due to the pandemic. 

• 2022: Sheila Escobedo de Morales from Colegio Decroly Americano in Guatemala.

• 2023: Mrs. Cristina Vergara / Cristina is Head of Science for John F. Kennedy American School of Queretaro High School

• 2024: Ms. Beatriz Gomez, Assistant Principal / Secondary Math Teacher at the American Nicaraguan School