Evergreen School District Superintendent Laurie Barron has been named Superintendent of the Year for Montana.

Barron was selected for the distinction by the Montana Association of School Superintendents based on four areas: leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.

To be considered for the state honor, Barron was first nominated and selected as superintendent of the year at the regional level. Superintendents in nine regions were considered for the top honor.

“It’s such a high honor to be chosen by your peers to represent the great work of superintendents across all of Montana,” Barron said. “I think all educators right now are working harder than we've ever worked and what has helped us stay successful in meeting students needs is working together.”

“An honor like this certainly doesn't come on its own. It’s done with a lot of teamwork,” she added.

Barron has led Evergreen School District since 2013 and also serves as a national speaker to teachers and administrators. In 2018, she received the School Administrators of Montana G.V. Erickson award for her contributions for the betterment of education in the state.

Her career in education began 25 years ago as a high school English teacher. In 2002, she made the move to administration. She said it was a path she wouldn’t have taken if not for an administrator who saw her leadership potential and convinced her to take on that role.

Barron holds a bachelor's degree in English education from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in supervision and administration from the University of West Georgia, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota.

Barron will be honored during the American Association of School Administrators

National Conference on Education in February 2021 and will go on to compete for the National Superintendent of the Year.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].