Magnet Mania is MSA’s District of the Year contest designed to increase the visibility of our members and magnet schools across the country. The competition is a bracket-style tournament starting in February and ending in April at our national conference.
The goal of Magnet Mania is to highlight the many ways that school districts lead and succeed in advancing the mission and purpose of magnet programs.
For membership inquiries, please email support@magnet.edu.
Magnet Mania is MSA’s District of the Year contest designed to increase the visibility of our members and magnet schools across the country. The competition is a bracket-style tournament starting in February and ending in April at our national conference. The goal of Magnet Mania is to highlight the many ways that school districts lead and succeed in advancing the mission and purpose of magnet programs.
All MSA District Members are eligible to participate.
Q: When does the contest start and end?
A: The contest begins the first week of February and ends at the MSA Annual Conference in April.
Q: Who is eligible for the contest?
A: All MSA District Members are eligible.
Q: Is MSA providing a media kit with hashtags, messages, etc. to help with engagement and voting?
A: Yes, MSA has this dedicated webpage with more details about the competition’s guidelines and rules. We will also release a toolkit to help spread the word on your social channels.
Q: Does Magnet Mania take the place of the previous Superintendent of the Year?
A: Yes, it will take the place of the previous Superintendent of the Year award.
Q: What is the expectation in terms of district-based involvement?
A: Prior to January 23, 2026, each participating district must complete this form, uploading a district logo and providing basic information about the district’s accomplishments and achievements for each of the Five Pillars. (a 150 word max per pillar)
Q: Will all districts in the competition participate in each round until eliminated?
A: Not necessarily. Because there may be an uneven number of participating districts, the tournament may include byes, meaning that some districts may not be required to participate in some rounds. These assignments will be generated randomly.
Q: Who receives the cash prize?
A: The overall District of the Year will receive a commemorative trophy or plaque. The District of the Year will receive a cash prize of $2,500 from MSA. The runner-up’s district will receive a cash prize of $500 from MSA. These prizes will be awarded at MSA 2026.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida
Dr. Dotres is a passionate life-long educator and has served as Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third largest school system in the United States, since February 2022. Prior to his appointment as Superintendent, Dr. Dotres held numerous instructional and administrative leadership roles over the course of his career as an educator, including Teacher, Principal, Region Administrative Director, Region Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Human Capital Officer, and Deputy Superintendent. Dr. Dotres earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Florida International University. He subsequently received a master’s degree in Reading from Barry University, an educational specialist degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Miami, and a doctoral degree in Leadership and Innovation from St. Thomas University.
Pasco County Schools, Florida
Awarded Magnet School Superintendent of the Year, Superintendent Browning has been – and continues to be – the driving force behind the transformation in Pasco County Schools. He has been remarkably effective in implementing innovative magnets in place at all grade levels and in every area of the school district. Perhaps most important, he has provided the appropriate support to ensure quality, equity, and success.
2022 Superintendent of the Year, Cathy Q. Moore, Wake County Public School System, North Carolina
Wake County Public School System, North Carolina
This annual award recognizes the important work of leadership within our school districts to keep magnet schools a priority in the portfolio of school choice options.
Cathy Moore has been superintendent of Wake County Public School System for the past 3.5 years. The strongest recognition of Superintendent Moore’s commitment to students, staff, families, and community partners occurred in 2018 when the local Board of Education’s changed her contract from an annual renewal to a rolling two-year contract. In 2019 and again in November 2021, the BOE extended her contract for two additional years. The BOE noted that this move was done to [publicly demonstrate their support and confidence in Cathy Moore’s leadership.
2020-2021 Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Michael A. Grego, Pinellas County Schools, Florida
Pinellas County Schools, Florida
This annual award recognizes the important work of leadership within our school districts to keep magnet schools a priority in the portfolio of school choice options. This year’s winner – Superintendent Dr. Grego’s dynamic and visionary leadership has led to record graduation rates, monumental school improvement, and successful efforts to narrow the achievement gap.
2019 Superintendent of the Year, Warren Drake, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Louisiana
This annual award recognizes the important work of leadership within our school districts to keep magnet schools a priority in the portfolio of school choice options. This year’s winner – Superintendent Warren Drake – recognizes the importance of school choice and the role of magnet programs in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. He has supported the expansion of magnet schools and increased the number of seats where possible to ensure parents are provided with additional choice options.
Mr. Drake has been continuously praised for his efforts to expand theme-based programs in his school district. During the 2017-2018 academic year, Woodlawn Middle and High School launched new magnet programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The district also secured a $15 million STEM-based grant from the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) under Mr. Drake’s leadership.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System has 28 programs serving students from three years old to high school seniors. The programs were instrumental in helping the school district achieve unitary status in 2007, which ended one of the longest-running desegregation cases in the United States.
Dr. Stephen HefnerSchool District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, South Carolina
This annual award recognizes the important work of leadership within our school districts to keep magnet schools a priority in the portfolio of school choice options. Dr. Hefner’s unyielding focus on expanding school choice by creating magnet options in District Five has been the catalyst for school improvement districtwide. Spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Hefner has facilitated the creation of numerous magnet schools and programs in two South Carolina districts, many of which have been recognized by Magnet Schools of America as Schools of Excellence and Schools of Distinction and achieved designation as Nationally Certified Magnet Schools. In District Five, Dr. Hefner has also helped school leaders secure two multi-million dollar federal Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grants, including a $10.3 million grant in 2013 and a $13.7 million grant announced last fall.
