GFW Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Horton was recognized at the Minnesota Association of School Administrators Spring Conference as a MASA Regional Administrator of Excellence. This is the first time a sitting superintendent of GFW has received this award from the association.
“This award is truly an honor and a reflection of the students, staff and community that I am able to work with every day,” said Horton. “We are passionate about providing a world class education to every student in our schools because that is what these kids deserve. Whether it is an urban or a rural area, students and their families deserve to have the same educational opportunities, and I am proud of the work we have done.”
Horton began as superintendent in July 2020 as the district was facing a number of challenges including Statutory Operating Debt (SOD), an upcoming operating levy election, and facility challenges. Since then, the district has exited SOD with a stable and sustainable budget, added more than 100 new opportunities for students including the area’s only Two-Way Dual Language Immersion program, and expanded career and technical education offerings. With the support of 63% of voters in an election in April 2023, the district is preparing to break ground on a new PreK-12 facility set to open in the fall of 2025.
“The leadership team, staff, families, and community members of GFW have really shown what it means to collaborate in order to support our students,” said Horton. “Recognitions like this one are a great reinforcement that the work we are doing is making an impact and that our district can be an example of future-focused decision making.”
Dr. Horton accepted the award from St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard and MASA Executive Director Deb Hinton
Award Information
The award honors administrators for their leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs. 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.