SOUTH CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE

Area Superintendents Recognized for Leadership by MASA & MinnSPRA

Dr. Jeffrey Olson, superintendent for St. Peter Schools, received the Kay E. Jacobs Memorial Award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA). The award recognizes administrators with five or less years of administrative experience that have shown excellent leadership and involvement provided to MASA and other educational organizations. Dr. Olson was honored for his leadership, concern for students and active involvement in professional and community affairs at a shared session of the MASA/MinnSPRA conference this spring.

Dr. Olson is responsible for guiding and directing all activities of the school system and for informing the school board of the needs related to current and future school district operations. He expressed an overall wish to be the visionary leader for the school district, and his goals include building relationships based on trust and integrity, empowering the employees of the school system to do meaningful work on behalf of the students they serve, setting clear and achievable goals related to increasing the achievement of all students, and providing the leadership necessary to move the school district to a “world class status.”

This award was established in 1983 in honor of Kay E. Jacobs, an outstanding young administrator of many achievements who died in a car accident in 1979. Each year MASA recognizes members for their contribution to public education.

MASA is a professional organization of Minnesota’s school leaders, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of special education and other central office administrators, as well as state department administrators, college and university professors, and other educators throughout Minnesota dedicated to educational leadership.

Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent, Dr. David Prescott was named the inaugural recipient of the District Leadership in Communications Award from the Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA). The award will annually recognize a practicing superintendent of schools for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications.

Dr. Prescott was selected by MinnSPRA for the award because of his outstanding communications skills, his willingness to seek outside counsel, and his ability to recognize the importance of strong, strategic communications with district stakeholders.

MinnSPRA President Karen George and National School Public Relations Association President Robert Noyed presented the award to Dr. Prescott at the same shared session of the MASA/MinnSPRA conference this spring.

“He is passionate in his commitment to develop, implement and maintain a philosophy of transparent, enlightening, and open internal and external communications through his own leadership and action,” said George.

Thank you to MASA and MinnSPRA for photos and press release information.