Former Alexandria City Public Schools superintendent Herbert Berg was recognized for his exceptional educational leadership Feb. 23 with the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of School Administrators.

Berg, who lives in Alexandria with his wife Paula, was presented the award at AASA's 2013 National Conference on Education in Los Angeles, California.

Over the course of his career, Berg served in public education for more than 40 years. He was superintendent of schools for 35 years, serving as ACPS superintendent from 1995 to 2001 in addition to six districts in Washington and South Carolina.

He was also the executive director of the Association for the Advancement of International Education and served the U.S. Department of State/Office of Overseas Schools, School to School Partnership in China for seven years.

Berg was twice named among the top 100 North American Executive Educators by Executive Educators Magazine. He was named Superintendent of the Year in South Carolina as well as a National Tech Savvy Superintendent by eSchool News. He was elected president of the Washington Association of School Administrators and was a board member of the Washington Post DC Council of School Superintendents.

Berg received his B.A. from Seattle Pacific University, his M.A. from Seattle University and his Ed. D. from Washington State University.

In addition to Berg, the 2013 honorees included Patricia E. Neudecker and Paul Shaw. In presenting the awards, the AASA stated that three were recognized “for bringing honor to themselves, their colleagues and their profession; rendering exemplary service to their state or national professional association; and contributing to the education field through writing, public advocacy, or other activities.”