CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 31, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI), in partnership with American College of Education (ACE), is proud to announce Krystal Bell, Chief Support Officer of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System in Georgia, as the first-ever recipient of the ERDI Educational Innovator Award.

Launched in 2025, the Educational Innovator Award celebrates PK–12 leaders whose creativity, courage, and measurable impact are transforming public education. The award honors leaders who design forward-thinking solutions that expand opportunities, close gaps, and create lasting improvements for students and communities.

In addition to recognizing bold leadership, the award carries a unique legacy component: the recipient selects an emerging leader to receive a full-tuition master’s-level scholarship at ACE.

Monica Carson, Vice President at ACE, reflected on this year’s honoree:
“Krystal Bell is a true innovator who embodies the very essence of this award. Her leadership has redefined what’s possible for students in Savannah-Chatham and beyond, pairing vision with action, and innovation with measurable impact. She is not only reshaping systems today, but also inspiring the next generation of leaders to think boldly about equity and excellence. We are honored to celebrate her achievements and to invest in the leadership pipeline through this scholarship.”

Jennifer Ferrari, CEO of ERDI, added:
“The Educational Innovator Award reflects ERDI’s belief that honoring bold leadership must go hand-in-hand with cultivating the next generation of trailblazers. Krystal’s work exemplifies that dual commitment of transforming outcomes for students today and modeling practices that inspire leaders nationwide.”

The Educational Innovator Award will be presented annually to an ERDI member serving in a PK–12 leadership role, reinforcing ERDI’s mission to advance access and excellence through courageous and innovative leadership.

About ERDI
For 40 years, The Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) has been a leader in educational innovation, uniting district and industry leaders from across the nation to address the most pressing challenges in PK-12 education. Driven by action and guided by a shared commitment to equity and excellence for all children, ERDI contributes to shaping the future of education through cutting-edge research, strategic development, and meaningful dialogue. For more information about ERDI and its initiatives, visit www.erdius.org.

About ACE
American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, fully online college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, leadership, healthcare and nursing. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 60 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master's or bachelor's degree, along with graduate-level certificate programs. In addition to being a leader in online education, ACE is a Certified B Corporation and part of a global movement to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. To learn more about ACE, visit https://ace.edu.

Jaime Barraza
Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI)
[email protected]

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