Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier is one of five finalists for the annual Green-Garner Award given each year to America’s top urban educator by the Council of the Great City Schools.

The award will be presented Oct. 23 in Milwaukee during the council’s annual fall conference. In addition to the recognition, the winner receives a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a student.

Other finalists are Miami-Dade County Superintendent Albert Carvalho; R. Stephen Green, head of Kansas City, Mo., public schools; Valerie Silva of the St. Paul public schools; and Eric Gordon, chief executive officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Sponsored by the Council of the Great City Schools, Aramark K-12 Education, and Voyager Sopris Learning, the award is presented in memory of Richard R. Green, the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system, and Edward Garner, who served on the Denver school board. The award alternates every other year between a superintendent and a school board member.