Haines school superintendent Roy Getchell was named the Alaska Superintendent of the year by the Alaska Council of School Administrators for “steady, thoughtful and measured leadership.”
“I was surprised and at the same time just felt a lot of appreciation,” Getchell said in a brief phone interview during a drive to Anchorage, where he will be officially recognized.
Getchell, who has been superintendent since 2018, said he was proud to represent Haines.
“I’m honored to wear the Haines flag for this – I’d be uncomfortable if I viewed it any other way.”
The Alaska Council of School Administrators is made of superintendents from 53 districts. The annual award is chosen by a committee of those superintendents and is open to nominations from within or outside of the organization, according to spokesperson Dominique Johnson.
A press release from ACSA noted Getchell’s leadership through the fatal 2020 landslide in Haines, which killed a kindergarten teacher at the school, as well as through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getchell said he felt like he was “in the right place, doing the right work at the right time.” He said the most meaningful moments included navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, when many parents were opposed to district policies but trusted him to make the right decisions for students.
“When you have that kind of trust and that kind of respect — that is something that can’t be taken lightly,” he said.
Department of Education and Early Development commissioner Deena Bishop called Getchell an “excellent superintendent” and said his “commitment to students’ success and well-being is beyond reproach,” according to a release from ACSA.
Getchell has a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Denver University. Recently, he advocated and secured funding from the borough after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed nearly a half million dollars in expected state funding earlier this year. He told CVN at the time that the district was in better shape than most because it had saved money in previous years to make up for some of the deficit. The district has also dealt with a small exodus of teachers last year, which Getchell said was a result of a variety of circumstances, including retirements and other reasons beyond the district’s control. This year, the school has 11 new teaching staff.
Getchell will be honored at the superintendents’ conference in Anchorage on Sept. 28 and will represent Alaska for the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year awards.