Headline: Harrison School District 2 Superintendent Wins 2025 Women In School Leadership Award -03/10/25
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — Harrison School District 2 Superintendent Dr. Wendy Birhanzel was recognized for her dedication to public education with the 2025 Women in School Leadership Award at the yearly AASA National Conference on Education in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, March 7 and she was welcomed back to D2 today by students, staff and community partners. You can find video here via dropbox. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xkp7of6q6jbmyn76xb4pk/AAVIyya0YOVKOWP_G66yuBI?rlkey=w4wmopezq0gjy60n2m5nehoov&st=900ri9go&dl=0
In partnership with Horace Mann Educators Corporation, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, announced Birhanzel as a finalist for this award on November 18, 2024. AASA is a professional organization comprising more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and worldwide, formerly known as the American Association of School Administrators.
Birhanzel has over 20 years of experience in public education and has served in her current role in Harrison School District 2 since 2019. Her work has been recognized with several other awards, including the 2023 Colorado Superintendent of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE). Dr. Birhanzel was awarded the Mayor’s Young Leader Award from the city and the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her college for her educational impact. Recently, she was named 1 of 22 to watch in ’22 by the Southeast Express, a Woman Making a Difference by the League of Women’s Voters, Colorado Springs Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts, and the Solid Rock Community Development Corporation's 2023 Southeast Colorado Springs Distinguished Service Award recipient.
Dr. Wendy Birhanzel proudly states, "This honor is a testament to our incredible students, dedicated staff, and invaluable community partners in D2. It reaffirms that our achievements are being recognized and that our district continues to defy expectations. While some may see obstacles, we see opportunities—I believe we're just getting started.”
According to the AASA website, the Women in School Leadership Award is "designed to recognize the exceptional leadership of active, front-line female leaders who are making a difference in the lives of students every day." Birhanzel is the first Colorado superintendent to win this award.
"The AASA Women in School Leadership Awards were created for amazing leaders like our honorees today," said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. "They have a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to student success, staff development, and innovation in education. It's mission critical to significantly increase the number of women in education administrative positions, and we are proud to recognize these talented educators and showcase their outstanding achievements and contributions. We thank Horace Mann for supporting our program."
CASE Executive Director Bret Miles, who attended the AASA conference, said Birhanzel is well deserving of this award. To see her exceptional leadership in Harrison School District 2 nationally recognized is an honor. "I couldn't be more thrilled to see Dr. Wendy Birhanzel receive this well-deserved recognition," Miles said. "She is a passionate and dedicated leader who always puts students first, and her impact is felt not just in her district, but across Colorado and beyond. Wendy's leadership, vision, and commitment to equity make her truly deserving of the AASA 2025 Women in School Leadership Award."
Birhanzel earned her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership in Urban School Settings from the University of Southern California. She has served in public education in both California and Colorado. Birhanzel has served as a school principal, curriculum officer, and interim co-chief operating officer in Harrison School District 2.
Harrison School District 2 serves 12,301 students across 28 schools in El Paso County. Within the district, 1,563 students are enrolled in Special Education, 1,694 students are English Language Learners, and 8,803 students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch.
This year's NCE AASA event had 5,677 attendees and 450 educational speakers. View AASA's press release about the 2025 Women in School Leadership Award here. https://www.aasa.org/news-media/news/2025/03/07/aasa-announces-2025-women-in-school-leadership-award-winners
For more information on Harrison School District 2, visit www.hsd2.org. To learn more about CASE, visit www.co-case.org, or for more information about AASA, visit www.aasa.org.