MASA Announces 2025-26 School Year Award Recipients

MASA proudly announces the recipients of its 2025-26 school year awards, recognizing outstanding leadership and service in public education across Minnesota.

Award recipients will be honored March 19-20, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest during the 2026 MASA Spring Conference. The Polaris Leadership Award and Richard Green Scholar Award are presented at the 2026 MASA Fall Conference. MASA will also formally recognize the 2026 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, who was announced in fall 2025.

In conjunction with this announcement, MASA has prepared detailed press releases highlighting the awards and the individuals being honored. Please find the individual releases linked below:

Kay E. Jacobs Memorial Award | News Release
Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools

The award recognizes excellent leadership and involvement in MASA and other educational organizations by an administrator who is a woman. This award is sponsored by PTMA Financial Solutions.

Distinguished Service Award | News Release
Dr. Deb Henton, Executive Director, MASA

This award recognizes outstanding support of the children of Minnesota and significant contributions to activities that have improved Minnesota’s public education system.

Outstanding Central Office Leader Award – Metro Area | News Release
Ms. Isis Buchanan, Director of Educational Equity, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

Outstanding Central Office Leader Award – Greater Minnesota | News Release
Ms. Donna Roper, Director of Research, Assessment and Gen AI Integration, St. Cloud Area School District

These two awards recognize administrators in non-superintendent roles for their willingness to take risks, strong communication skills, progressive change leadership, and high expectations for themselves and others.

Minnesota Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools

In case you missed it, read Dr. Sayles-Adams’ news release here! This award is sponsored by ASTR.

Polaris Leadership Award | News Release
Dr. Chace B. Anderson, Superintendent, Wayzata Public Schools

The Polaris Leadership Award recognizes a superintendent who demonstrates visionary leadership, sustained excellence, and a commitment to advancing public education in Minnesota. This award is sponsored by Ehlers, Inc.

Richard Green Scholar Award | News Release
Dr. Silvy Lafayette, Executive Director of Assessment, Research and Evaluation, St. Louis Park Public Schools

The Richard Green Scholar Award recognizes outstanding contributions to educational research, scholarship, and the advancement of data-informed leadership in Minnesota schools. This award is sponsored by Cuningham.

2026 Regional Administrators of Excellence | News Release
Established in 1985, the purpose of the Region Administrator of Excellence Award is to honor an administrator each year from each of the nine MASA regions. Each individual selected represents the leadership excellence found in MASA members, exhibits a willingness to take risks, possesses strong communication skills, is a progressive change agent, and maintains high expectations for themself and others.

2026 Regional Honorees:

• Region 1: Dr. Evan Gough, Superintendent, Goodhue School District

• Region 2: Dr. Eric Hudspith, Superintendent, Waseca Public Schools

• Region 3: Mr. Ryan Nielsen, Superintendent, Canby Public Schools

• Region 4: Dr. Brandon Lunak, Superintendent, Moorhead Area Public Schools

• Region 5: Ms. Jeannie Mayer, Superintendent, Verndale Public School District

• Region 6: Mr. Eric Olson, Superintendent, Monticello School District

• Region 7: Mr. Nathan Libbon, Superintendent, Cromwell-Wright Schools

• Region 8: Dr. Jeremy Olson, Superintendent, Bemidji Area Schools

• Region 9: Ms. Zena Stenvik, Superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools

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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