Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is proud to announce that Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence has been honored as the 2024 Superintendent of the Year by the American Heart Association (AHA). This award recognizes Dr. Spence’s exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering a healthy environment for students, staff, and the entire school community.
The AHA recognized 21 individuals and institutions nationwide for their dedication to promoting heart health and wellness in schools through the Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, with Dr. Spence standing out for his forward-thinking initiatives that prioritize the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of LCPS students. His efforts to integrate health and wellness into daily school life align with the AHA's mission to reduce heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
“When I began my journey as superintendent, I knew that education was not just about academics—it’s about fostering well-being, ensuring that our schools are places where children and adults alike can thrive, body and mind,” said Dr. Spence. “Partnering with the American Heart Association has given us the opportunity to make heart health a priority, helping us teach our students the lifelong value of exercise, good nutrition, and taking care of their overall wellness. I extend my deepest gratitude to the American Heart Association for their tireless advocacy and support, as well as to my incredible LCPS team, whose passion and dedication make these initiatives possible.”
The Superintendent of the Year award is part of the AHA's broader efforts to inspire schools and educators nationwide to prioritize heart health and empower the next generation with the tools to lead healthy, active lives.
Both the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science, which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood. Each year, these service-learning programs engage more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 schools in every state in the country. Students learn how to improve their overall health while making a positive impact on others.
For more information about LCPS’s health and wellness initiatives, please visit the Loudoun County Public School website.