Uniondale School District Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil received the 2026 Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award from the School Superintendents Association.
The award is a national honor recognizing educational leaders who promote equity, mentorship and opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in public education.
The award is named for Effie H. Jones, a pioneering educator and advocate who worked to expand leadership opportunities for women and minorities in school administration. Each year, AASA presents the award to leaders who demonstrate a commitment to advancing inclusive leadership and supporting future generations of educators.
Darrisaw-Akil was one of three recipients honored at the 2026 AASA National Conference on Education on Feb. 12 in Nashville, Tennessee. The other recipients were Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence of Virginia and Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Stacie Stanley of Minnesota.
“It is an absolute honor to receive this distinction and to champion the remarkable work we have done to empower scholars,” Darrisaw-Akil said. “In the Uniondale School District, we aim to unlock students’ full potential and encourage them to embrace their passions through a framework of equity, leadership, respect, diversity and academic and extracurricular excellence.”
AASA described her as “a transformative educational leader who believes that within every child resides a unique ‘genius’ waiting to be affirmed.”
During her tenure in Uniondale, the district has increased its high school graduation rate and expanded access to Advanced Placement courses, earning national recognition for its academic progress.
