SPEARFISH - Spearfish Superintendent of Schools Dave Peters earned high honors last month when he was named 2008 Superintendent of the Year by the South Dakota School Superintendents Association.

"That's a really special thing," Belle Fourche Superintendent Bill O'Dea said. "The association only takes three nominations each year, and this year, Dave was the one from Region 4. And he won it."

Region 4 includes most of the West River school districts, O'Dea said.

As president of the state organization, O'Dea presented the award to Peters at the annual conference in Pierre.

"I was really honored to get to do that, since I know Dave through the organization, but also as a co-worker, colleague and friend."

"I just think Dave Peters exemplifies the leadership of the superintendent position," O'Dea said. "He sits on a special executive group that meets quarterly with the governor regarding educational issues. He has served on legislative committees and delegate assemblies. And he has been a leader in the Spearfish School District in the midst of difficult budget situations and maintaining quality of education. And he has a new building project just finishing up at the high school."

Peters is now a contender for the National Superintendent of the Year at the annual national conference in San Francisco in February, where he will be acknowledged and honored in front of a few thousand people from throughout the nation, O'Dea said.

"It's a very high honor. This is a select group."

Along with a plaque honoring the designation, Peters also received a personalized Black Hills Gold ring that has been a signature token for Superintendent of the Year winners for about 10 years.

Peters, who has been in the Spearfish School District for the past eight years, has been in education for 33 years, with 29 years in administration.

Before coming to Spearfish, Peters served as administrator in Montana for more than 20 years, where he was known as a strong leader and effective communicator. Before serving as a superintendent, he was a guidance counselor and a coach in Richey, Mont.

In Spearfish, he not only represents the school district but also serves state education in various capacities, including as chairman of the association's ethics commission.

"Putting the students first has always been the main goal in mind with Peters," school district business manager Craig Crosswait said.

Crosswait and other co-workers credit Peters with developing and implementing a scholarship program that benefits students pursuing a career in education and for the spearheading the high school addition to create a better learning environment.

"I've been working with Dave for years, and I can't think of a harder worker, better listener or more dedicated educator," said Liz Manning, president of the Spearfish Foundation for Public Education, which works closely to enhance educational offerings at the schools. "Being superintendent of schools is not an easy job; it is a real balancing act, and Dave has become a real master at walking the tightrope of doing his best for the students of Spearfish, all the while dealing with budget cuts, aging facilities and countless other concerns."