What does it take to be the state's Superintendent of the Year? 

The Harford County Public Schools announced that its superintendent, "Jackie Haas has been named the Maryland Superintendent of the Year!"

So how many other superintendents were vying for this esteemed state title? When the Sun contacted the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland, the executive director, James L. Lupis Jr., was strangely mum.

"I can't divulge that.  We have countywide school systems in Maryland where we have 24 school systems and 24 superintendents."  The number of nominations varies year-to-year, he said.

"Was Dr. Haas the only one in the applicant pool this year?"

"No."

"Was it less than five?'

"Yes." 

Lupis wouldn't say the exact number of nominees for this year's Maryland Superintendent of the Year, although now we can narrow it down to two or three or four.

The award implies that  the superintendent is picked statewide, in the same fashion as the state's Teacher of the Year prize.  But the average number of nominees each year is less than five, Lupis said.   

Haas receives a traveling plaque with her name engraved along previous winners.  She will be one of the 50 superintendents vying for the title of National Superintendent of the Year awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).  Read the full two-page announcement here.