Kent School District Superintendent Dr. Edward Lee Vargas received his official award from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) for having been named 2014 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators earlier in the year. The event took place this week at the AASA national conference in Nashville, Tenn.

“I am humbled and honored to have been selected as Washington’s 2014 Superintendent of the Year and to have been considered for the national award. It is also truly an honor to be recognized among such an outstanding group of fellow superintendents in Washington State and across our great country,” said Vargas.

“But success is a team sport and this recognition would not have been possible without the exemplary teamwork of our school board, leadership team, classroom teachers, support staff, district partners, and our entire school community. They have made my work as their superintendent a privilege, joy, and a tremendous source of pride. This honor is really about all of us in the Kent School District and reflects the hard work and dedication of many in our community.”

Vargas has served as superintendent of Kent School District (KSD) since 2009. KSD has received numerous local, state, national, and international awards during his tenure.  He is widely regarded as a critical part of the district’s success in improving test scores, increasing graduation rates, advanced technological integration, and increasing parent and community engagement in one of the most diverse school districts in the nation.   The district recently passed two school levies by comfortable margins indicating increasing community support.

Under Vargas’s leadership, KSD was also designated as a Microsoft International Best Practices Site for Technology, partner in the Innovative Schools World Tour, and member of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools.