Justin Fryer was born and raised on the Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation in the northeast corner of South Dakota. Justin earned both his M.S. in administration, teaching, and learning and B.S. in elementary education from Northern State University. Fryer became the superintendent of Solen Public School District in 2013.
Before becoming superintendent, he served as an elementary principal, instructional coach, and 5th grade classroom teacher in Solen School District. Justin worked as a first grade teacher with ELL students. This experience developed a love to educate at risk students.
Before taking the job in Solen, Justin moved back to South Dakota to further his education and worked as a Hutterite colony school teacher for Faulkton Public School District. This teaching experience provided an opportunity to work with at risk students, again, and proved to be a unique cultural experience. Fryer has spent a significant amount of time during his career fighting for educational equity among impoverished students.
Past AASA North Dakota Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2020 North Dakota Superintendent of the Year: Mike Bitz
2019 North Dakota Superintendent of the Year: Paula Suda
About the Superintendent of the Year:
As a sponsor of the superintendent of the Year program, First Student wants to recognize these leaders in a special way this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption that has affected all education systems but also the innovative approaches that the superintendents and school districts addressed through radio, television, zoom and take-home packages. These superintendents are the very best in public education and are needed more than ever during this crisis.
About the Award:
The superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, The School superintendents Association, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State level winners are selected on the following criteria:
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement