SKIDMORE – He’s modest. Especially for a man who just won superintendent of the year honors in Texas’ Region 2.

“I am very honored and appreciative to be representing our region,” said Dr. Brett Belmarez, Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District superintendent.

“I guess that means they recognize the good work that the district has done,” he added, still not wanting to take credit himself for the district’s accomplishments. “I am blessed to work with great kids and great staff.”

This recognition is sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards and recognizes exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984.

Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance and commitment to public involvement in education, according to a news release from the National Association of School Boards.

Superintendents from any of Texas’ 1,034 local school districts are eligible for nomination by their school boards.

Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which chooses one nominee to send to the state selection committee.

“I owe my thanks to the board of trustees who nominated me for this award,” Belmarez said. “I know we have to earn that trust and maintain that trust each and every day at the office.”

In August, the state committee will interview regional winners in Austin and select five state finalists. The Superintendent of the Year will be announced Sept. 28 at the TASA/TASB Convention in Austin.

Belmarez said, “I have never been nominated for anything like this.

“Our plans are to go on and keep going.”

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.9 million students.

Jason Collins is the editor at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 121, or at editor@mySouTex.com.