Kevin Holt Honored with Leadership North County 2015 Fran Aleshire Award
By Whitney Frasier
Kevin Holt, a lifelong educator and Superintendent of San Marcos Unified School District, was honored with the Fran Aleshire Award for his outstanding leadership and regional involvement at the San Diego North Economic Development Council’s Annual Business Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 13.
Holt is a 2011 graduate of Leadership North County, a program of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) that seeks to cultivate leaders who will address issues unique to the North County region, while also developing harmonious relationships within the cities. In its nearly two decade history, Leadership North County has graduated approximately 400 individuals. Once a month session topics cover a wide variety of topics related to the region including government, business, healthcare and education.
Each year the Leadership North County Alumni Network presents the Fran Aleshire Award to a graduate of the program who, in the spirit of community leader Fran Aleshire, exhibits the characteristics of great leadership. Individuals are nominated by their peers.
During the award presentation, Holt was recognized for leading positive change throughout the region with a distinct commitment to student welfare. His program Just Pick One was created to encourage every educator and staff in his district and region to support and mentor a student. While leading by example, Holt continues to mentor students and has made substantial progress toward closing the achievement gap in San Diego County.
“As proud as I was to receive the 2015 Fran Aleshire Award, I am the one who has been honored to be a part of Leadership North County, an organization whose diverse and talented members have helped me to understand the nuances of our region and how we benefit from each other’s knowledge,” said Holt. “To be recognized by my peers as someone who exhibits the spirit of Fran Aleshire is beyond rewarding, and I am humbled to be part of this outstanding community – a community that has strengthened my belief that, collaboratively, we can ensure equal opportunity for our students to graduate having the greatest number of postsecondary choices from the widest array of options.”
Past recipients of the Fran Aleshire Award include:
2014: Brenda Hall, Director of the North County Professional Development Federation
2013: Raye Clendening, civil rights advocate and educator
2012: Don Stump, executive director of North County Lifeline
2011: Gina McBride, owner of McBride Financial Advisory
2010: Beckie Garrett, governing board member of the San Marcos Unified School District
2009: Julie Wright, president and founder of (W)right On Communications
2008: Jim Desmond, City of San Marcos mayor
2007: Mark Moore, retired Marine Corps Major General
2006: Lori Holt Pfiler, former City of Escondido mayor, current executive director of San Diego Habitat for Humanity
2005: Ramona Finnila, former City of Carlsbad councilmember, current board member of Tri-City Healthcare District
For more information about Leadership North County, contact 760-750-4003 or www.csusm.edu/LNC.
California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout the year of 2015. Since its founding, CSUSM has distinguished itself as a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. With nearly 13,000 enrolled students, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego and Southwest Riverside Counties.
Eighty-five percent of CSUSM’s nearly 35,000 alumni stay in the region after graduation. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the 2014 HEED Award—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—the University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. CSUSM is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.