ESC REGION 12 ANNOUNCES REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

Dr. Vivian A. Baker Superintendent Belton ISD

WACO, TEXAS – The Education Service Center Region 12 is pleased to announce that Dr. Vivian A. Baker, superintendent of Belton ISD has been named the 2006 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year (SOTY). Baker will represent Region 12 as its nominee for the 2006 Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Texas Superintendent of the Year, and the state winner will be announced on Oct. 8.

“I am humbled and consider it an honor to represent Belton ISD, an outstanding team of educators and board members, as their nominee for Superintendent of the Year,” Baker said. “It truly takes a team to build an outstanding school district like Belton. I will continue to represent the District and know that I am one of many Texas school superintendents that lead dedicated educators to provide the best public schools for young people.”

Baker has a total of 25 years of administrative experience, the last four as superintendent of Belton ISD. She began her educational career in 1964 as a junior high English teacher. She’s served as teacher, curriculum director, counselor, and principal, most of that time in Belton.

When Baker became superintendent of Belton ISD, she implemented programs throughout the schools to insure that the District’s motto, “Every Kid a Winner,” was a reality. Mentor teacher programs, curriculum guidelines, special education models, employment of a Gifted and Talented coordinator, peer assistance teams, and applying “smaller learning communities” are a few methods she uses to improve instructional and student management.

Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She then received her master’s from Southwest Texas State University and her Doctor of Education from Baylor University. Baker also earned her professional counseling certification from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.

She is involved in several community activities which include serving on the Texas Biotechnology Advisory Board at Temple College, Servant Leadership Institute of Central Texas Board of Directors and Belton Chamber of Commerce (Ex-Officio Member). Baker is also a member of many professional organizations such as the Texas Association of School Administration (TASA), Phi Delta Kappa International and Texas Council of Women School Executives (TCWSE). She also served as former district president and is a current member of Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA).

Baker has earned in excess of $2.5 million in grant awards for Belton ISD. She personally has been appointed the TASA Commissioner’s Cabinet, (At-Large Member), Commissioner’s Legislative Task Force to Consider Teacher Performance Incentives, and Commissioner Neeley’s Steering Committee of Superintendents, and was named TEPSAN of the Year in District 12.

Each year candidates are chosen for strong leadership skills, dedication to improving the quality of education in their school districts, commitment to public support and involvement in education, and the ability to build good employee relations among teachers and staff members. Candidates are nominated by their respective school board, but respective school board members are not allowed to be on the panel of judges. A panel of judges consisting of regional school board members select the winner on the basis of his/her responses to a series of essay questions and on his/her personal interview with the panel. ESC Region 12 will hold a reception in the fall to honor Baker and Region 12 Teachers and School Board of the Year.

For more information about the program, please contact Jack Crain at 254/297-1102 or jcrain@esc12.net. For more information about Baker, please contact Judy Owens in Belton ISD at 254/215-2024.

About the Texas Superintendent of the Year Program

About ESC Region 12

One of 20 centers throughout Texas, the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 provides professional training and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students. Based in Waco, with offices in Copperas Cove, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, and Teague, the ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.