WASA
News Release
Olympia, Washington
360.943.5717
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2007
360.943.5717
admin@wasa-oly.org
2008 WASHINGTON STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR
HONOR AWARDED TO
LINDA BYRNES, ARLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Linda Byrnes, superintendent, Arlington School District, was selected
as Washington state’s 2008 Superintendent of the Year by the
Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).
Byrnes will represent Washington in the National Superintendent of
the Year Award Program, which is sponsored by the American Association
of School Administrators (AASA) and ARAMARK. In February, the 2008
National Superintendent of the Year will be announced and recognized
along with the four state finalists at the AASA National Conference on
Education in Tampa, Fla.
“I am proud of the quality of education in Washington state and
the role superintendents have played in raising standards and
performance expectations for students and staff,” Byrnes said.
“I also am extremely proud to represent the superintendents of the
state of Washington."
Byrnes is currently in her 12th year as superintendent of the
Arlington School District. During her tenure as superintendent, some of
the many innovations she has implemented are: “Showcase of
Learning,” a bi-annual event where teachers present best practices
to their peers; mentorship programs for new teachers and administrators;
Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) program; School Improvement
Planning Technical Assistant Project (SIPTAP); Freshman Academy, to help
at-risk students with the transition to high school; Stillaguamish
Valley Home School; and summer school programs for credit retrieval and
WASL remediation and testing.
“I consider Linda Byrnes to be one of the most encouraging and
positive role models I have ever met,” said Ally Acker, a former
student representative to the Arlington School District Board of
Directors. “Learning by her side as a student representative to
the board, I had the opportunity to witness her incredible ability to
balance strength and grace, regardless of the number of items on her
agenda. Linda has a magical way of making young people feel comfortable,
encouraged and truly valued.”
Byrnes, who received her masters in education from Central Washington
University and did her post-graduate work in education at the University
of Washington, is a current board member of the Washington Association
of School Administrators Political Action Committee and former member of
the WASA Board of Directors. She is also actively involved in the
Northwest Educational Service District No. 189 and the Snohomish County
Superintendents.
As a community leader, Byrnes currently serves on the board of
directors for both the Snohomish County Boys and Girls Club and the
Arlington Rotary Club, which honored her in 2005 with the Service Award
for Professional Excellence. Byrnes also has been on the board of
directors for the Snohomish County United Way (2003–06) and the
Stillaguamish Valley Senior Center (1996–2006) and was a member of
the Lake Stevens City Council from 1981 until 1984.
|
