John Barry named best superintendent in the state by CASE

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file photo by Heather L. Smith/The Aurora Sentinel

In a week that's seen its fair share of controversy at the Aurora Public Schools district, Superintendent John Barry garnered an unprecedented honor from the Colorado Association of School Executives.

Barry was named the 2011 Colorado Superintendent of the Year by CASE, officials announced this week

Barry, who came to APS as superintendent in 2006, beat out superintendents from the state’s other 177 school districts for the honor. As winner of this year’s CASE award, Barry is automatically eligible in the competition for the American Association of School Administrators’ National Superintendent of the Year prize, which will be announced at the organization’s national conference in February.

In a news release announcing the award, CASE member and 27J Superintendent Rod Blunck said, “John is truly a visionary leader. He’s willing to take on difficult tasks, willing to look at the realities of the system and then willing to do something positive about it.”

CASE Executive Director John Hefty formally announced the prize during the APS Board of Education’s regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, explaining that Barry had been nominated by the School Executives of Aurora and by APS Deputy Superintendent Tony Van Gytenbeek. Barry had beat out competitors according to criteria based on leadership skills, communication, professionalism and community involvement, Hefty added.

In accepting the award, Barry credited the APS board, district staff, classified employees, parents and students. He cited gains in student achievement and the launch of the VISTA 2010 and 2015 plans, ambitious blueprints that steered operations across the district.

“We’ve made amazing successes in the district (while) we’re in the worst financial crisis that we’ve been in — that’s not our fault,” Barry said. “I think it’s a real credit to the entire team.”

Barry also paid credit to Van Gytenbeek during the formal award ceremony.

“I want everybody in Aurora to know that this trophy needs to be shared with the deputy superintendent,” Barry said. “It’s both of our names (on this trophy).”

Like Barry, Van Gytenbeek praised staff and students from across APS.

“This really is an affirmation of the rest of the district,” Van Gytenbeek said. “I for one am very, very fortunate to work here.”

The CASE award marks a unique achievement for Barry, who came to the district without a traditional background in education. Before coming to the post in Aurora, Barry served for 30 years as general in the United States Air Force. He was the executive director of the investigative team for 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle accident.

“I’m nontraditional,” Barry said. “There are a lot of firsts here,” he added, referring to the APS Board of Education’s award as the best school district in the state earlier this year.