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Noris F. Price (L), and Robert M. "Bud" Bierly (C) receive 2011 Johnnye V. Cox Awards from Sally Zepeda, a professor in UGA's educational administration and policy program at the 2012 EDAP Awards Luncheon on Feb. 17. Photo by Michael Childs

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Two outstanding Clarke County School District administrators—Noris F. Price and Robert M. “Bud” Bierly—were recently recognized for their distinguished service to the field of supervision and leadership by the University of Georgia College of Education’s educational administration and policy program.

A third honoree, William “Bill” Kruskamp, now a part-time faculty member at UGA, was recognized for his work as a longtime educator and administrator by the University Council of Educational Administration, a consortium of major research universities with doctoral programs in educational leadership and policy.

Noris Price
Price, associate superintendent of instructional services and school performance, and Bierly, assistant superintendent of human resources, each received a 2011 Johnnye V. Cox Award.

Under Price’s leadership, the Clarke County District has reached higher levels of student achievement. Across all levels and subgroups, student performance has increased, resulting in the district being named the Title I Distinguished District 2010, an honor indicating the school district was number one in the state of Georgia for closing the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students.

Price also serves as a board member of the Clarke County Mentor Program and co-chair of the Whatever It Takes K-12 Strategic Action Team, an initiative in Athens-Clarke County to have all students on track to graduate by July 1, 2020. Additionally, Price serves on the Georgia State University Advisory Board for the Principals Center which provides practicing and aspiring school leaders with learning and networking opportunities designed to develop their capacity to create schools that work for all children.

Robert M. "Bud" Bierly (L) and Noris F. Price pose with Clarke County School Superintendent Phillip D. Lanoue. Photo by Michael Childs

Before coming to Clarke Schools, Price was principal at Woodland Elementary Charter School for 10 years in Fulton County. Under her leadership, Woodland became the first public school conversion charter in Fulton County. During her tenure, the school was named a Title I Distinguished School and received the Georgia School of Excellence Award, as well as the National PTA Parent Involvement School of Excellence Award. In addition, Price was named Georgia Distinguished Principal (District 10) by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals. She also received the Outstanding Principal Award from the Georgia PTA and a National PTA Lifetime Membership. Before that, she was an elementary school principal and assistant principal in Fairfax, Va. She was also an elementary school teacher for nine years in Fairfax and New York City.

Price holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a certificate in educational leadership from George Mason University in Virginia, a master’s degree in elementary education from Lehman College of the City University of New York and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wilmington College in Ohio.

Robert M. “Bud” Bierly
Bierly has helped lead improvements in such areas as workplace safety, compensation, evaluation and mental health benefits. Since his tenure with the district began in 2008, he has also provided the leadership for large-scale changes in position control and district staffing allocations.

Prior to joining Clarke County Schools, Bierly served as superintendent of the New Miami School District in Hamilton, Ohio. In that position, he oversaw the district receive the Ohio Education Department Proficiency Test Scores Improvement Award, as well as schools receiving a variety of awards including Ohio Department of Education Award for elementary and high school “Schools of Promise.” He was also named to the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, the school district moved from a state report card rating of “academic emergency” to the fully operational “effective.” He also led the development of research-based curriculum for grades K-12. A sports enthusiast, Mr. Bierly established the New Miami Athletic Hall of Fame and developed the district’s athletic master site plan.

Before that, Bierly served as principal at Madison High School in Middletown, Ohio and Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio. He also worked as an assistant principal, guidance counselor and history teacher in several other middle and high schools.

Bierly received his master’s degree in educational leadership from Xavier University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Furman University.

In addition to his professional commitment to education, he has served in a variety of community roles that benefit children. From coaching YMCA basketball to serving as a United Way volunteer and being on the board of the Salvation Army, he has worked to make a difference in the lives of many.

William "Bill" Kruskamp (L) accepts the 2011 University Council of Educational Administrators (UCEA) Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from Sally Zepeda, professor in UGA's educational administration and policy program at the annual EDAP Awards Luncheon on Feb. 17. Photo by Michael Childs

William “Bill” Kruskamp
Kruskamp (EdD ’06), now a part-time assistant professor in the UGA College of Education’s department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, received UCEA’s 2011 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award for his work over three decades in schools in Florida and Georgia. The award recognizes practicing school administrators who have made significant contributions to the improvement of administrator preparation.

Kruskamp served as a teacher, science department chair, assistant principal, associate principal and principal at Shiloh High School in Snellville and then at Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville. He was named Principal of the Year by the Gwinnett County PTA in 2004, and has served as president of the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals since 2010.

While serving as the principal of Shiloh High School, Kruskamp completed his doctorate in educational leadership at UGA, where he focused his studies on instructional supervision and professional development.

Since 2005, Kruskamp has taught a variety of courses at UGA on instructional supervision, learning communities and professional development in addition to other performance-based courses related to the work of the principal. He also laid the foundation for the performance-based components of the master’s and specialist degrees in educational administration and policy, and the doctorate in educational leadership.

Kruskamp has authored and co-authored six refereed journal articles, a book chapter and more than 20 national and international presentations. He also helped develop the Early Career Principal Residency Program, a partnership between the UGA College of Education and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders. He has also served in the New Principal Coaching Program sponsored by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals Program.

Krukamp began his teaching career in 1976 in Seminole County Public Schools as a science teacher at Teague Middle School in Forest City, Fla.

“Bill Kruskamp has made significant and long-term contributions to the program in educational administration and policy and has made our programs stronger,” said Sally J. Zepeda, a professor in educational administration and policy. “He is an asset to the preparation of future leaders, and we are fortunate that he has been so very helpful to our programs. Dr. Kruskamp embodies all that this award entails.”

The awards were presented at a luncheon held on Feb. 17 at River’s Crossing by the College of Education’s department of lifelong education, administration, and policy.