The highest honor in school business, recognizing outstanding and unique contributions made by school business officials to their districts and the profession.
Congratulations to the 2024 Eagle Award recipients!
2024 International Eagle Award Recipient
Michele Trongaard, CPA, RTSBA, SFO
Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance
Mansfield Independent School District
Mansfield, Texas
Before joining Mansfield ISD, Trongaard served for 17 years in Wylie (Texas) ISD, becoming the district’s first female CFO. She came to Mansfield at the onset of COVID-19 and made a point of visiting all 48 campus principals throughout the year, explaining that “it was essential in building relationships and ensuring the success of Mansfield ISD.”
COVID was just one of the challenges Trongaard has faced with resilience and perseverance. She also navigated her district through $55 million in hailstorm damage, a school shooting with multiple injuries, and a cyberattack on the fourth day of school in 2022 that resulted in the loss of financial records.
An active member of ASBO International and a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO), Trongaard has led her districts to the Meritorious Budget Award and the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. In 2019, she achieved the Pinnacle of Achievement Award for ingenuity and resourcefulness. She has attended and presented at various ASBO International and Texas ASBO conferences and events.
2024 Distinguished Eagle Award Recipients
Jill Barragan
Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Phoenix, Arizona
Whether it’s mentoring colleagues, investing in her staff, advocating for equitable funding, or serving her local community, Jill Barragan has a reputation for advancing the goals of education through her work as a school business administrator.
For example, concerned about the underrepresentation of women in school district leadership, she worked with Arizona ASBO to institute the Women’s Executive Leadership Development Series to empower and equip women with the skills, knowledge, self-efficacy, and networks to thrive in executive positions. Her colleagues describe her as leading by example, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement within her district.
Jack Mitchell, EdD, SFO
Assistant Superintendent for Business
Valley Stream Union Free School District 24
Valley Stream, New York
Jack Mitchell’s commitment to leadership is evident in his service to his district and profession. An active member of New York ASBO and ASBO International, he has served on a variety of committees, conducted workshops, written articles, and presented at conferences. A fierce advocate for education, he has lobbied at the New York state capitol and advocated for education funding.
A Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations, Mitchell co-hosted ASBO International’s SBO Perspectives podcast for three years and has contributed to ASBO International’s Editorial Advisory Committee. He is a member of ASBO’s Vision35 Task Force, helping shape the future of ASBO International and the school business profession.
Mary Ellen Normen
Administrator for Business and Finance
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, Massachusetts
Mary Ellen Normen’s commitment to the profession is evidenced by the countless hours she has devoted to guiding and supporting colleagues, sharing her knowledge, and empowering others to develop leadership skills. A past Massachusetts ASBO Board Member, she received the association’s prestigious President’s Award in 2015 and 2023 in recognition of her contributions to the profession.
Normen led a restructuring of the MASBO board into a more collaborative and data-driving organization, enhancing its ability to address emerging needs and priorities and ultimately benefitting the state’s 900,000 students and 650 school business professionals. She currently serves on ASBO International’s Education Committee.