Great Day at the MASA Conference.  Gary Amoroso and the awesome staff at MASA have put together another great fall conference.  I am unable to attend both days of the conference, but from what I saw today it provided both inspiration and value.  It's always great to catch up with SEE superintendents and superintendents from other parts of the state in an environment that promotes discussion and camaraderie.

It was an especially exciting conference this year as I got to see Dr. Chris Richardson receive the MASA Polaris Leadership Award.  The recipient of this award must have at least twenty years of service as a school administrator and have exhibited the following qualities as a school leader during their career (from the MASA website):

• professional courage leading to positive change
• creation of a legacy of excellent leadership
• a lifelong career contribution of commitment to excellence on behalf of all students
• exemplifying positive reasons that a person would choose to practice
• fostering innovation and ideas that make a difference for students and the school community
• a lifetime of balanced achievement inside and outside of education
• contribution to the practice of educational leadership through example and mentoring
• exemplary conduct reflecting integrity and bearing emulation
• significant tenure in each position to support district vision and affect positive change.

Dr. Richardson has been a strong advocate for SEE at both of his superintendent stops in Minnesota (Osseo and Northfield), serving time as SEE's legislative chair and a longstanding member of SEE's executive committee.  He has been a valuable resource for me on a variety of topics and is a tireless worker on behalf of students throughout the state.

I snapped this shot of Dr. Richardson with another friend of SEE, Joel Sutter from Ehlers and Associates.  Joel presented the award to Dr. Richardson at today's luncheon.  I wish the picture had turned out better, but I don't know if I should blame the camera on my phone or my paltry ability as a photographer.