Edina Public Schools Honored With ASBO International Pinnacle Award for Achievement

Edina Public Schools is proud to earn a 2026 Pinnacle Award for Achievement from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO International) — an honor that reflects the innovation and excellence happening across our district community.

The award recognizes school districts that use creativity and resourcefulness to solve operational challenges and advance education. Edina was selected for its development and use of a web-based Minnesota K-12 Benchmarking Platform, which transformed decades of complex financial data into an interactive resource that helps school finance leaders compare metrics, spot trends, and make informed decisions in seconds rather than hours. 

The impact of this project is broad; while it was developed by Edina’s team of visionary school business professionals, the platform can potentially serve all of Minnesota’s 329 public, independent school districts. It can become a powerful resource for districts statewide to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to their communities by improving transparency, operational efficiency, and strategic planning initiatives. 

For Edina Public Schools CFO/Executive Director of Finance & Operations Mert Woodard, SFO, this award is a testament to the district’s approach to strategic, thoughtful financial stewardship. 

“Edina is expected to define excellence, and in a district with unusually strong community support and a strong financial position, that means stewarding every dollar entrusted to us with the rigor those expectations demand,” Woodard said. “My thanks to ASBO International — and to a board, an administration, and a community that make the standard clear.”

Edina Public Schools joins Fulton County Schools in Atlanta and Lewis-Palmer School District 38 in Monument, Colorado, as Pinnacle Award for Achievement honorees this year. 

"School business officials are constantly finding new ways to solve complex challenges, often with limited resources," said ASBO International Executive Director Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO. "The 2026 Pinnacle Award recipients exemplify the ingenuity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership that move our profession forward. Their projects not only produced measurable results within their own districts but also provide practical models that other school systems can adapt and build upon."

Winning school districts will be recognized at ASBO International’s Annual Conference & Expo this fall and will receive $5,000 in school furniture from Pinnacle Awards sponsor Virco.