At the annual conference of the Women’s Educational Leadership Network (WELN) on March 18, the 2026 Bobbie D’Alessandro Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Thea Stovell Herndon.
Dr. Stovell Herndon is Superintendent of the Randolph Public Schools.
The award is presented annually to a female M.A.S.S. member currently serving as a Superintendent in Massachusetts who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in her district and in the association. Ms. D’Alessandro, former Superintendent of the Cambridge Public Schools, presented the award to Dr. Stovell Herndon, saying, “Thea is a thoughtful and strategic leader. She reaches out to new superintendents, in particular new female superintendents, and pulls them up the ladder toward district leadership.”
Dr. Stovell Herndon has been active in M.A.S.S. for many years, including serving as a facilitator in the M.A.S.S. Superintendent Support Network (MSSN). She is also the M.A.S.S. representative on Governor Healey’s Statewide K-12 Graduation Council.
Read more about Dr. Stovell Herndon in our Superintendent Spotlight.