Superintendent of the Tacoma Public Schools Dr. Art Jarvis is once again a Superintendent of the Year. In 2005, he was selected by the Washington Association of School Administrators as the Washington State Superintendent of the Year while superintendent of the Enumclaw School District. This year, he was honored as Superintendent of the Year at a reception following the first Washington State Superintendent of the Year Golf Classic on Aug. 10 at the Tournament Players Course (TPC) at Snoqualmie Ridge.
A fellow superintendent nominated Jarvis, according to Ryan Whitworth, director of Programs for Neuropath Learning, which sponsored the golf classic to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication superintendents exhibited during the 2008-09 school year.
Whitworth said Neuropath Learning contacted the superintendents of the 295 Washington school districts to ask for nominations—there were 17 candidates who received recognition. The superintendents then voted, with Jarvis coming out on top. Two other superintendents were within one vote of Jarvis: Dr. Steve Chestnut, superintendent of the Selah School District, and Dr. Frank Hewins, superintendent of the Franklin Pierce School District. Both were honored at the reception following the golf classic.
Superintendent comments that supported Jarvis’ nomination and selection included these two: “Art has been an educational leader for many years. Through his years of experience, patience and innovative thinking, great achievements in education have come to be because of Art Jarvis; he deserves this award!” “As the years pass you by in your places of employment, you either take the back seat or choose to drive. Dr. Jarvis decided to drive a long time ago and has taken his staff and students along with him to a higher level of achievement.”
While Jarvis was unable to attend the golf portion of the event due to commitments at the district, he attended the business portion of the event with other fellow superintendents. The business agenda included understanding new innovations in public education which meet the changes required by President Barack Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The emphasis was on individual instruction and the use of technology and accountability to qualify for the new $4.3 billion Special Education funds set aside for the “race to the top” stimulus package.
The sponsor proceeds from the golf classic will go to Stronger Families, a non-profit organization, and Operation Military Families, a division of Stronger Families, which supports military men, women and their families.
Check the Neuropath Learning Web site at http://neuropathlearning.com for more information on the golf classic and programs offered.