The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents has selected HISD Chief Elementary Schools Officer Dr. Samuel Sarabia as the inaugural 2015 Leaders in Education Hispanic-Serving School District Administrator of the Year.

The 2015 ALAS Leaders in Education Awards are presented to school district superintendents and administrators from across the country who exemplify best practices in public education

Sarabia — selected for his passion and commitment to education — will be recognized Wednesday during the first annual ALAS Leaders in Education Awards Gala in Washington D.C.

“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor,” Sarabia said. “Our students and teachers are making great strides in the classroom every day, and I feel grateful for this opportunity to represent our district and share our work on a national level.”

A lifelong educator, Sarabia began his career as a third-grade bilingual teacher in HISD in 1987. He spent eight years in bilingual and special education classrooms before being promoted to assistant principal and then principal.

During Sarabia’s tenure at Roberts Elementary, the school became one of the first fully authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme schools in Texas. His teaching and leadership abilities also were recognized in various teacher and principal of the year honors at the campus and district level.

Sarabia also served as executive principal and regional superintendent before being selected as chief elementary schools officer, a position he has held since 2010. One of three elementary chiefs, Sarabia is responsible for ensuring the academic growth and success of more than 50,000 students and overseeing the daily management of 57 schools.