Outstanding Central Office Administrator Award

The nominees of this award must be non-superintendent MASA members who are Central Office Administrators exhibiting a willingness to risk, possess strong communication skills, are progressive change agents and who have high expectations for self and others. Two awards will be presented annually, one from greater MN and one from the metro area. This award is presented at the MASA Spring Conference.

Stay tuned for nominations for the 2025-26 school year!

Background

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators is pleased to sponsor the MASA Outstanding Central Office Leader Award, presented each spring in recognition of exemplary school leadership by non-superintendent MASA members who are Central Office Administrators exhibiting a willingness to risk, possessing strong communications skills, who are progressive change agents, and who have high expectations for self and others. Two awards will be presented annually: one from greater Minnesota (Regions 1-8) and one from the metro area (Region 9).

The Awards

1. The awards will be presented at the MASA Spring Conference.
2. Each recipient will receive a recognition plaque.
3. A news release will be distributed to pertinent media in the coverage area of the recipient.

Selection

1. Nominees may be self-nominated or nominated by another member of MASA.
2. Nominations must be made on the official MASA form available through the MASA office by January 15, 2024.
3. The MASA Executive Committee and the Central Office Component Group Representative(s) to the Board of Directors will comprise the committee that selects the annual recipients.

Criteria

1. The recipients must be current active or associate members of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.
2. The recipients must be in a non-superintendent central office leadership role at the time of selection.
3. The recipients must have demonstrated exemplary professional and organizational leadership in their central office role.
4. The recipients must have demonstrated active involvement in educational and community affairs.
5. The recipients must be regarded as a role model by MASA colleagues.

Recipients of the Outstanding Central Office Administrator Award

2025

Cindy Olson
Hope Fagerland

2024

Eric Simmons
Jenna Mitchler

2023

Jamie Nord
Anthony Padrnos

2022

Kay Nelson

2021

Michelle Krell
Tim Wald

2020

Mark Diehl
Stacie Stanley

2019

Kyle Breitkreutz
Robert McDowell

2018

Jean Duffy
Doug Johnson

2017

Pam Miller
Josh Swanson

2016

Matthew Hillmann
Kim Riesgraf

2015

Jana Hennen-Burr
Cory McIntyre

2014

Barb Knudsen
Jeremy Kovash

2013

Darren Kermes
Barbara Muckenhirn

2012

Nancy Allen-Mastro
Wayne Kazmierczak

2011

Cindy Amoroso

2010

Jane Sigford

2009

Jane Holmberg
Bob Vaadeland