Richardson Receives Superintendent of the Year Award

Northfield Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Chris Richardson, received the Superintendent of the Year award at the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) Recognition luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The award was presented by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).

“I am very proud and at the same time honored and humbled to be recognized by my colleagues with this honor,” said Richardson in October when he learned he was selected. “During my 30 years as a superintendent, I have always been guided by one simple yet powerful question, ‘Is this in the best interest of all the students in my district?’ I hope that in some small way I can represent my fellow Minnesota superintendents who on a daily basis strive to provide the best possible educational experience for the children and school districts they serve. Our communities expect it and our students deserve it.”

As the Minnesota honoree, Superintendent Richardson is a candidate among other state winners for National Superintendent of the Year, to be announced at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) convention on February 16, 2011 in Houston, Texas.

Superintendent of the Year nominees are evaluated on how each candidate demonstrates:

• Leadership for learning—creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
• Communication skills—strength in both personal and organizational communication.
• Professionalism—constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team. 
• Community involvement—active participation in local community activities and understanding of regional, national, and international issues.

Superintendent Richardson was selected for this honor by a panel of representatives from a variety of Minnesota education organizations. “I am thrilled the committee has choosen Dr. Chris Richardson for the 2012 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year,” says MASA Executive Director Dr. Gary Amoroso. “Dr. Richardson is truly a passionate educator who works on behalf of every student in his district on a daily basis.”

Superintendent Richardson has been superintendent for Northfield Schools since 2004.