First it was the teacher. Now, the pupil has claimed the same honor.

Luann Purcell, assistant superintendent for pupil services in Houston County Schools and a 1990 UGA graduate in educational leadership, has received the highest honor bestowed by the international Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE).

This marks only the second time a Georgia educator has won CASE's Harrie M. Selznick Distinguished Service Award in its 15-year history. But Georgians now have a claim on it for two years running. Bill Swan, a UGA professor of educational leadership and Purcell's doctoral professor, was last year's winner.

Purcell has been very active in CASE over the past 10 years, serving the organization in multiple roles. The award will be formally presented at the international Council for Exceptional Children's Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia in April.

Last fall, Purcell received the Lillie N. Moncus Award as the Outstanding Special Education leader in Georgia from the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education (G-CASE).

Purcell was awarded her Ed.D. in educational leadership in 1990. Her dissertation was entitled "The Anticipated Supply and Demand of Educational Administrators in Georgia Public Schools."