On a recent summer day, Taw Lindsey was doing maintenance work in Metlakatla’s high school gym when his phone rang. On the line was the executive director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators, informing Lindsey that he was named the state’s 2027 superintendent of the year
Lindsey didn’t even know he was nominated.
“I was humbled, very appreciative, but I was humbled that they chose me,” he said.
Alaska superintendents can be nominated by anyone who has personal knowledge of their performance and qualifications. The selection committee, composed of former winners, veteran superintendents and community leaders, looks not only at a nominee’s commitment to students, but to their colleagues and community. Lindsey’s qualifications and time with the district stood out to them.
“I think because he’s worked with so many of the different positions in the district, he really truly understands the challenges that are faced by employees at every level,” said Alaska Council of School Administrators Executive Director Lisa Parady.
Although Parady wasn’t part of the selection committee, she’s known Lindsey for years. He’s active in the Alaska Superintendents Association, which is a branch of the state’s Council of School Administrators.
Parady said Lindsey is respected around the state.
“He’s deeply committed to serving his own district, but also the children across Alaska, and so I think that was something that folks really appreciated about him,” Parady said.
Lindsey has been with the rural, three-school district for over 20 years. He started in Metlakatla as a temporary maintenance worker, then taught auto mechanics. He was then high school principal before starting his superintendency in 2019.
And since then, colleagues say he’s adopted a research-based curriculum and has been a proponent of professional development in the district. Lindsey is also credited for enhancing the district’s career and technical education programming. That includes its scuba and rescue diver courses, which provide career development in commercial diving and mariculture.
Parady said she traveled to Metlakatla in mid-September to present Lindsey with the award. When she left, Parady said she was confident that Lindsey was absolutely deserving of the award.
“Taw’s leadership is really grounded in a student first mindset, and I think it’s really clear that he leads with his head and his heart,” Parady said. “He recognizes that education is ultimately about people, and relationships, and creating opportunities for every child to succeed.”
Lindsey said long-term leadership in the district is key to its stability. It recently received a Cognia accreditation, which certifies that a school or district meets certain educational standards.
Lindsey said Alaska has a lot of great superintendents, who have managed much more difficult challenges than he has. Even so, he said the award gives his school district great exposure for all it’s doing.
“It’s just a reflection of hard work with a lot of people working together, and I want to share this award with everybody that I work with,” Lindsey said. “I think this is an incredible district.”
Parady believes this is the first time a superintendent from Metlakatla has been recognized by the Alaska Council of School Administrators in its decades long history. The organization also honors principals and school business officials. Over half a dozen superintendents from around the state were nominated for the 2027 award.
Lindsey will go on to represent Alaska at the national superintendent competition in Georgia this February.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
