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Minoo Shah, the director of educational services for the Portola Valley School District, was named the 2026 Special Education Administrator of the Year, according to a district press release.
Shah was recognized for her leadership, dedication to educational quality and innovation in serving students with disabilities by the Association of California School Administrators. She has worked in education for 25 years and began her career in India before pursuing masters and doctorate degrees in the United States. Shah has been with the TK-8 district of 495 students since 2014.
“Shah’s colleagues describe her as a ‘reflective leader’ who prioritizes curiosity over blame and approaches every challenge with an asset-based mindset,” said the district in the press release.
In her administrative role, Shah has been a key leader in initiating systemic transformations, advocating for equity, providing professional mentorship and creating partnerships with local education leaders, according to district officials.
Through her leadership, the district has been able to improve outcomes for historically underserved students and educators are provided with opportunities to receive professional development. Shah is known to step in to cover for other staff so they can pursue learning experiences to grow their skills.
Shah has worked with school leadership teams, the San Mateo County Office of Education and Stanford University to support initiatives to implement the California Math Framework and uplift English learners in the community.
She was also recognized for her work with the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan development team, which ensures that student achievement data is consistently monitored to meet the high standards of the school’s community.
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