The Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is pleased to announce that Dr. Vivian Baker, Superintendent of Belton ISD, has been named the 2006 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year.

Region 12 Superintendent of the Year

Dr. Vivian Baker,
Belton ISD

Dr. Vivian 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 has served as teacher, curriculum director, counselor, and principal, most of which time has been 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 masters degree 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 a 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 to 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.

“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 and her husband Dudley have five children and seven grandchildren.