Congratulations to Steve Chestnut, superintendent of the Selah School District, for being named the 2010 Washington State Superintendent of the Year! The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) announced Chestnut's selection during the organization's annual meeting in Seattle on Nov. 20.
This is only the second time in the program's 22-year history that the award has gone to an administrator in the ESD 105 region. Former Yakima School District Supt. Ben Soria won the award in 2005.
Chestnut will represent Washington in the National Superintendent of the Year Program, which is sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and ARAMARK Education, ING Foundation. In February, the 2010 National Superintendent of the Year will be announced and recognized along with the national and state finalists at the AASA National Conference on Education in Phoenix, Arizona.
Chestnut had retired as the superintendent for Moses Lake School District after 12 years last spring before accepting the position of Selah School District superintendent this past summer. His main goal during his tenure at Moses Lake was to improve academic progress. Leading by example, Chestnut was able to set aggressive goals to meet the needs of students and staff. He remained involved in both state and national associations, engaged in community activities, and set standards based on his knowledge of state and federal legislation.
“It is an honor to be selected as Washington’s 2010 Superintendent of the Year; and I would like to thank WASA for this recognition," said Chestnut. "Much of what I have learned about being a superintendent is a result of the excellent professional development that I have received from WASA. It is humbling to receive this award from such a great organization. I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Moses Lake School District with whom I had the privilege of working with for the past 12 years. Their excellent work during that time made this recognition possible.”
Chestnut received his doctorate in education from Seattle University and his master’s in education from Central Washington University. Since 1991, he has held superintendent positions with Dayton School District, Moses Lake School District, and now Selah School District.
The superintendent is an adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University and Heritage University. He is presently active with the Washington Association of School Administrators, American Association of School Administrators, North Central Washington Association of School Administrators, Employee Relations Negotiations Network, and Kiwanis Club of Selah. Chestnut has been involved in numerous professional development activities and published several articles and presentations on education.
