Resources

COSA is proud to offer its members a range of resources from scholarship and award opportunities to helpful guides for relevant issues administrators are dealing with every day. If you have a resource to share or have an idea about how COSA can continue to serve its members, we want to hear from you. Contact Nicole Harvey at nicole@cosa.k12.or.us

Equity Toolkit  Awards  Scholarships  Jerome Colonna Mentorship Program  Resources and Newsletters

Communicating about Racial Equity

Awards

These annual COSA awards recognize outstanding administrators and programs. If you have a colleague you feel deserves recognition, please contact Nicole Harvey, nicole@cosa.k12.or.us

OASE Awards

  • Superintendent of the Year Program (SOY)

OASSA Awards 

  • Principal of the Year (Middle and High School) (POY)
  • Assistant Principal of the Year (Middle and High School) (APOY)

OESPA Awards 

  • Elementary Principal of the Year/National Distinguished Principal (Elementary and Middle School) (National Distinguished Principal Program)

OACOA Awards 

  • Achievement of Excellence Award

COSA Scholarships

Each year COSA sponsors or assists in processing five $1,000 college scholarships. These scholarships are given to Oregon seniors attending a 2- or 4-year college or university, trade or professional/technical school. Scholarship application requires a letter of recommendation from a current COSA member (principal, assistant principal, central office administrator or superintendent)

OASSA Scholarships:

The Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) awards two $1000 scholarships each year to graduating seniors from Oregon public high schools. The scholarships may be used for a 2- or 4-year college or university, trade or professional/technical school.  These two scholarships are for a child or dependent child of an OASSA member. 

OSSA Scholarships:
Scholarship application will be posted by March 16, 2026 and due April 10, 2026

Jerome Colonna Mentorship Program

Supporting Early Career Superintendents

Superintendents are leaders of PreK-12 school districts throughout Oregon. Their roles and responsibilities are vast and varied, ranging from managing multi-million-dollar budgets to ensuring the safety of the staff and students in their care. Motivated by a passion to improve educational systems and achieve exceptional student outcomes, superintendents are crucial to the success of a school district. Every superintendent could benefit from the support of a coach or mentor, but in particular, those superintendents in the first few years of their career.

We need your help to ensure that mentorship is available to all who need it.

As a former, longtime Oregon superintendent, former member of the Oregon State Board of Education, and Retired member of COSA, Jerry dedicated his life to being an effective education leader and teaching other superintendents how to do the same. Before Jerry’s passing, he helped COSA establish the Jerry Colonna Mentor Support fund by providing a significant donation and matching others that contributed to the fund.

Before his passing, Jerry asked COSA to help keep his vision alive by providing support to early career superintendents through an in-depth Academy which includes a 24/7 mentor for every first or second-year superintendent in Oregon. Participants engage in deep professional learning and receive regular consultation from their mentor, content support on timely issues, crisis management consultation and assistance with strategic visioning and planning.

We must do much more to mentor those individuals who start out in the wonderful-but extremely demanding-calling of superintendent. The first few years present the greatest challenges, but also the greatest opportunities to help. Let’s keep Jerry’s legacy alive by contributing to this important effort.

Thank you on behalf of Jerry and his constant modeling of effective leadership over many decades.

Click here to make a donation.

Jerome Colonna Leadership Bio:

  • 2006-07 COSA President
  • 2001 Oregon Superintendent of the Year
  • University of Oregon Alumnus
  • Oregon Superintendent 1994-2011

Resources to Support You and Your District

Family Mental Health Resources
COSA understands the need for barrier-free, robust mental health supports for students and families. Use the flier for more information on how to bring these resources to your own community.

The Call to Courage: Standing Up and Speaking Out Against the Assaults on Democracy, Educators, and Students in America’s Schools was just released. Dr. Sheldon Berman and Luvelle Brown wrote this book to support all educators and parents, especially those whose schools are under threat for performing vital and meaningful work. The book’s message will help you reclaim the narrative of public education and carry on the essential initiatives that support the success of all students.

Newsletters