Nation’s best schools chief: Atlanta’s Hall

High school graduation rates increased and test scores steadily improved during Beverly Hall’s near-decade as superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

This success makes Hall the nation’s top superintendent, the American Association of School Administrators announced Friday in San Francisco.

“Beverly Hall is an outstanding superintendent whose leadership has turned Atlanta into a model of urban school reform,” said Dan Domenech, the association’s executive director.

Hall, 60, beat superintendent finalists from Indianapolis, Trussville, Ala., and Fayette County, Ky.

“I am so thankful the work we’re doing in Atlanta is getting recognition,” Hall said. “We have not fixed everything, but this award is incentive and encouragement for the work we still have left.”

State schools Superintendent Kathy Cox described Hall as a “change agent who does not back down.”

Hall required low-performing schools to implement rigorous literacy and math programs. She increased training for teachers and replaced ineffective principals.

Test scores still lag, but Atlanta was the only one of 11 urban school districts to improve scores in each subject and grade level between 2002 and 2007 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.