Though Malcom Nash officially retired from a career in education about two weeks ago, he is still collecting accolades.

Earlier this week Nash was named Region 5 Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards.

Nash came on board as superintendent at Sabine Pass ISD back in 2006 and saw the one-school district through highs and lows.

SPISD, which serves an average of 350 students each year, from early childhood through 12th grade, has maintained an exemplary or recognized rating during Nash’s tenure and enrollment increased almost 100 students since two hurricanes devastated the small coastal community. Last month the school finished No. 1 in the University Interscholastic League 1A state Academic Sweepstakes out of 500 schools.

“This is the greatest year I’ve had in education and being named Region 5 Superintendent of the Year is the highest honor a superintendent can receive,” Nash said from his new residence in a north-central Texas town in Palo Pinto County while taking in breathtaking views of a nearby lake. “I’m really, really proud and humbled by this award. But I have to say all the credit is due to the staff, teachers, students, parents and school board. Without their support I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have achieved.”

Nash is proud of SPISD’s academic performances after two back-to-back regional UIL wins, he said.

“This was a tremendous accomplishment for our school district and I couldn’t have asked for a greater send off then to win the state championship,” he said.

The district also fared better than average on the new state-mandated end of course exams. So far the Texas Education Agency has only released results on the end of course section of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness or STAAR and EOC assessments.

“There were no benchmarks or way to compare,” the retired superintendent said of the test. “But we never relaxed or took a break, we went straight to work on the STAAR as a new challenge.”

SPISD students surpassed the state of Texas scores as well as those from Port Neches-Groves ISD, Nederland ISD and Port Arthur ISD with the exception of one test.

SPISD ninth graders earned 79 percent passing rate in writing as compared to 60 percent for PN-GISD, 63 percent for NISD and 34 percent for PAISD.

The district fell a mere two percentage points behind PN-GISD in the world geography test with an 87 percent passing rate. They earned a 96 percent rate in algebra, 100 percent in biology and 89 percent in reading.

Kristi Heid, who served as principal of the school for many years and is a resident of Sabine Pass, stepped into Nash’s role as superintendent. She feels Nash is very deserving of his designation as Superintendent of the Year for Region 5.

“We are absolutely thrilled with his nomination and were happy to find out he had won especially during his retirement year,” Heid said. “He found out the district had won the UIL state academic championship and was so excited about that and now this. He couldn’t go out on a better note.”

The Superintendent of the Year program has recognized 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 information from Jim Baxter, program coordinator for Region 5 Education Service Center.

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

“Mr. Nash has helped Sabine Pass achieve excellence in both academic and extra-curricular student performance. He has also done an outstanding job in managing district finances and operations, while overseeing the rebuilding of much of the district facilities after the devastation of Hurricane Ike,” Baxter said in a press release. “His courageous and steadfast leadership in the wake of Hurricanes Humberto, Gustav, and particularly Ike defined his time at Sabine Pass and helped establish a legacy of leadership that will be long-remembered. Region 5 is proud to have Mr. Malcolm Nash as our Regional Superintendent of the Year.”

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

mmeaux@panews.com