Watertown School Board Wins 2026 ASBSD Award of Excellence for Leadership and Student Achievement

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) School Board Award of Excellence, recognizing the board’s exemplary leadership and commitment to student achievement across the district.

During Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielson read the official ASBSD press release announcing the honor. The award recognizes one South Dakota public school board each year for outstanding governance, leadership, and dedication to enhancing student success.

According to ASBSD, the Watertown School Board earned the distinction for its consistent focus on student achievement, its collaborative approach to district‑level decision‑making, and its commitment to empowering all students. The board recently approved an update to the district’s mission statement to include the word “empowering,” reflecting its emphasis on preparing students to succeed in an ever‑changing world.

Board members received the award last Thursday at the 2026 ASBSD–SASD Convention. The recognition includes a plaque and a $1,000 cash award, provided by BankWest.

ASBSD Executive Director Heath Larson praised the board’s leadership, stating that their commitment to the district “makes them more than worthy recipient of the award,” and that ASBSD was “thrilled to be able to honor them.”

The district’s newly adopted strategic plan — developed with input from multiple community and school groups — was highlighted as a key example of the board’s unified vision. The plan places particular emphasis on early learning and long‑term investment in student success.

During the meeting, Dr. Danielson invited board members to step forward for an on‑camera presentation of the award, noting the moment mirrored the district’s tradition of recognizing students and staff.

The recognition also extended to retired board members Stuart Stein and Tammy Rieber, who were included in the award presentation. Rieber, who served 12 years on the board before stepping down, shared her appreciation in a social media post, writing that the honor reflects “thoughtful, student‑centered decisions that will benefit our schools for years to come.”

Read more local & state news at www.northeastradiosd.com/news

Subscribe to the DAILY newsletter & download the LOCAL online RADIO app - https://zurl.co/FchgS