SBLSD’s Dr. Laurie Dent named Superintendent of the Year

SBLSD Superintendent Laurie Dent has been named Superintendent of Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators! Dr. Dent accepted the award this morning at the association’s fall superintendent meeting in Bellevue.

Standing among fellow superintendents grateful and humble, Dent remarked that she can’t do this work alone, recognizing the team that stands behind her. “I’m most proud of the people I serve along with every day,” said Dent.

“The honor of being named Superintendent of the Year belongs to my exceptional team, the true architects of our success. Together, we have transformed schools, served our community with compassion, and led with a relentless pursuit of fulfilling our promise to know, value, and support every student,” said Dent. “I’m proud to share this honor with a team that embodies the essence of collaborative excellence.”

The award recognizes the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents and pays tribute to those who lead Washington’s public schools.

“Dr. Dent is to be commended for spearheading a transformative mission during her tenure as superintendent, turning graduation rate aspirations into concrete achievements in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District,” said WASA Executive Director Joel Aune. “The district’s ‘100% Graduation Campaign’ ignited a collective commitment, resulting in an impressive 92.1% graduation rate in 2023—an 8.1% surge since 2016, including the significant closure of the graduation gap for Hispanic/Latino students.”

With 295 school districts statewide, Dent joins an impressive list of superintendents who’ve won the award since its inception in 1988, with these noteworthy stats:

• 1^st superintendent of an east Pierce County school district

• 6^th superintendent in Pierce County

• 10^th female superintendent

Learn more about the award and Dent’s numerous accomplishments as superintendent, the role she’s held since 2016. Watch this video to hear a portion of her acceptance speech.

About SBLSD
The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District has a connected community that supports a promise to know, value and support every student. District boundaries span the cities of Bonney Lake and Sumner, along with parts of Edgewood, Pacific and unincorporated areas of Pierce County.

With more than 10,000 students, SBLSD has 16 schools, an early learning center, 7 preschool/childcare centers, alternative education programs, family support resource center, district athletic complex, two performing arts centers, and public gymnasiums.