Press Room
Leader of ESD 112 receives prestigious national award
News Release – Dec. 5, 2007 Leader of ESD 112 receives prestigious national award The Association of Educational Service Agencies’ presented Dr. Twyla Barnes, Superintendent of Educational Service District 112, with the organization’s most prestigious national honor at its recent national convention in Tampa, Florida. Barnes received the Justus A. Prentice Award, which recognizes CEO’s from Educational Services Agencies who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments, innovative practices and advancement of the goals and philosophies of regional delivery of educational services.
As superintendent of ESD 112 for the past 13 years, Dr. Barnes has led educational innovation at the local, state and national levels. Her career spans more than three decades as a teacher, administrator and educational leader in school districts and agencies in Montana, Alaska, and Washington. She is a long-time champion of service delivery at the regional level, publicly advocating that the system of regional delivery of services dramatically strengthens a state’s ability to provide effective, comprehensive and economical education programs – and most importantly - equal education opportunities for all children, in districts large or small, urban or rural.
In a letter of support for the Justus A. Prentice nomination, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Terry Bergeson, said the state counts on guidance and leadership from Twyla in a number of areas. “She is called upon to provide testimony, participate on committees and act as a sounding board on numerous programs, projects and initiatives,” wrote Bergeson. “I consider her an exceptional colleague and devoted friend of education,” she added.
The ESD 112 region serves one of the smallest districts in the state with less than 25 students, to one of the state’s largest districts with over 25,000 students. Dr. Barnes supports the creation and implementation of programs and services for districts of all sizes and demographics. According to ESD 112 Board Chair Dr. Richard Graham, Dr. Barnes leadership and direction has helped build sustainable, cost-saving cooperatives in special education, public relations, transportation, risk insurance and more. By implementing her ideas and through the invention of new programs and services, ESD 112 has grown revenues by 110% and has procured federal grants totaling more than $22 million since Dr. Barnes became superintendent. She brought with her from Alaska a concept that has turned into one of ESD 112’s most successful ventures – The Construction Services Group (CSG). Unique in the entire country, CSG has managed the design and construction of more than six million square feet of school construction, valued at over $1 billion. “This type of success enables us to provide direct benefits to the 100,000 students in our region. Thanks to Twyla’s vision, creativity and guidance, our students are the recipients of critical programs and services that might not have been available,” said Graham.
Jane Gutting, superintendent of ESD 105 in Yakima said the eight ESD superintendents in the state nominated Twyla for the award “because of her outstanding leadership and accomplishments, many of which have been recognized on a national level,” she said. In 2002, Dr. Barnes was elected as AESA President, providing enthusiastic service to the organization’s ESAs in 44 states. Under her leadership, the AESA Executive in Residence program was developed and implemented – helping cultivate the next generation of agency leaders. She also helped coordinate the first summer CEO conference, where a groundbreaking White Paper outlining the role educational service agencies could play in the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act was created. This White Paper was presented to then Secretary of Education Rod Paige in 2001 and helped formulate critical NCLB policy. She continues to take a keen interest in the health of ESAs across the country, serving as a member of the AESA Foundation Board.
Her ability to see a need and find a solution extends beyond the agency’s walls, and into the broader community, as she currently chairs the Southwest Washington Medical Center Board of Directors and is a trustee for the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust. In her 14 years in southwest Washington, she has also been involved with numerous community groups and organizations and has been honored by many including being named a 2001 Women of Achievement by the YWCA of Clark County.
She has been frequently tapped by Governors, state-level cabinet officials and legislators to provide expertise on a wide range of educational issues. She currently serves as the chair of the Washington State Information Processing Cooperative Board – a unique public agency that provides quality information services at a reasonable cost to all the state's school districts.
For additional information, contact Barnes at (360) 750-7500, ext. 128 or email Twyla.barnes@esd112.org.