Shelby County School Superintendent Evan K. Major Jr. has been selected as one of eight finalists for the 2006 Alabama Superintendent of the Year Award.

School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) made the announcement recently, and the winner will be named later this month.

The winner will receive a bronze medallion with the Superintendent of year emblem and a plaque from the American Association of School Administrators

(AASA), SSA’s national affiliate and sponsor for this program.

The winner will also be honored during the SSA Winter Conference in January and ASSSA Annual Conference in February in Sand Diego, Calif.

According to State Board of Education, there are 133 school superintendents in eight districts in Alabama.

Shelby County is included in District 5, which also includes Jefferson County, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia, Tarrant, Bessemer, Midfield, Leeds, Hoover, Birmingham and Trussville.

&8220;It’s an honor to be nominated by your peers,&8221; Major said.

&8220;It’s a humbling experience and certainly for Shelby County, I’m pleased that the county has been recognized. It’s an honor just to be nominated.&8221;

A 1961 graduate of Sylacauga High School in Talladega County, Major had spent his entire education career in Shelby County.

He has served as school superintendent of the Shelby County School System since 1998.

Prior to being elected school superintendent he served as director of administration, director of instructional services, curriculum coordinator, placement coordinator, assistant principal and principal.

He served as assistant principal at Chelsea High School and Principal at Chelsea High School and Shelby County High School.

Major holds a master of education degree and associate in arts certification in school administration and leadership from the University of Montevallo and received his bachelor’s degree from Alabama College, which later became UM.

Nominations for Superintendent of the Year were submitted from regional districts of the school superintendents of Alabama membership to a committee of educators and representatives of education.

Other finalists include Dr. Harold Dodge of Mobile County Schools, Ronnie Driver of Covington County Schools, Dr. James Carter of Selma City Schools, Dr. Jim Jeffers of Tallassee City Schools; Jacky Sparks of Calhoun County Schools; Bravell Jackson of Marion County Schools and Dr. Richard Gardner of Sheffield City Schools.

School Superintendents of Alabama represents superintendents and school system leaders around the state and is an affiliate of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools and the state affiliate for the American Association of School Administrators