Dr. Deb Henton Selected as 2026 Distinguished Service Award Recipient
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2026
Contact: Dr. Lori Zimmerman, Director of Professional Learning, MASA
lori.zimmerman@mnasa.org | Direct: 651-295-7761
(Medford, MN) – The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) is proud to name Dr. Deb Henton, Executive Director of MASA, as the recipient of the 2026 MASA Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes an individual with a positive and lasting association with Minnesota public education, significant statewide impact, and a reputation for going above and beyond in service to the profession.
Dr. Henton will be recognized during a statewide ceremony at the MASA Spring Conference, March 19-20, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. This award honors her 37 years of unwavering service to students, school leaders, and families as she prepares for her retirement on June 30, 2026.
“Dr. Henton has done an exceptional job leading MASA, especially during the pandemic where she managed the incredibly difficult task of keeping Minnesota leaders informed and sane during the most unpredictable period in our careers,” said David Law, Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools. “Deb is a fierce advocate for both greater Minnesota and metro leaders, and she has done exceptional work to bring an equity mindset to the forefront of MASA's work".
"I can think of no one who more fully epitomizes the dedication, leadership, and personal sacrifice deserving of this honor," said Daniel Ludvigson, Superintendent of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Schools. "Dr. Henton has transformed her role from administrative leader into an indispensable professional lifeline, fielding calls at all hours to share her deep institutional wisdom with members navigating intense professional and political challenges".
A Legacy of Service and Leadership
Dr. Henton’s 37-year career in public education is a testament to her commitment to every level of the school system. She began her journey in the classroom as a social studies teacher in South Washington County, where her dedication was recognized early as Woodbury’s 1995 Teacher of the Year. Her path through secondary leadership included serving as an assistant principal at Stillwater Area High School and principal of Harding High School in Saint Paul. Before moving into the superintendency, she served as Chief of Staff for Saint Paul Public Schools, spearheading the district's strategic vision.
In 2007, Dr. Henton began a 13-year tenure as Superintendent of North Branch Area Public Schools. Her leadership was marked by innovation and community engagement, including the implementation of a balanced literacy framework that significantly reduced achievement gaps. She also pioneered the “Budget Boot Camp” process and led the district through a successful $70 million referendum in 2017—the first to pass in the district in 15 years.
Statewide Impact and Advocacy
Dr. Henton assumed the role of MASA Executive Director in July 2020. Her tenure has been defined by proactive advocacy and the cultivation of vital relationships between MASA and external organizations, including the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), the Board of School Administrators (BOSA), and state and national legislatures. Through these partnerships, she ensured that the superintendent's perspective remained a primary influence in education policy.
Professional Recognition and Involvement
Dr. Henton’s extensive list of honors includes being named the 2018 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. She also received the Kay E. Jacobs Memorial Award (2014) and was named a MASA Region 6 Administrator of Excellence (2015). She is a past president of MASA and has been a cornerstone of the MASA Foundation Board of Directors since 2011, having served as Board Chair.
Dr. Henton earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Each year, MASA recognizes members for their contributions 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 for students.
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