May 1, 2024

Carrie Duckart, the assistant superintendent in the Hughson Unified School District, has been chosen as administrator of the year in Region 7 by the Association of California School Administrators.

Duckart has been with Hughson since 2011. In her current role, she is in charge of all curriculum, student programs, professional development for staff, and all state and federal programs. Prior to that, she served as a principal and assistant principal in the district. She began her teaching career in Ripon in 2006 and also worked as a teacher and assistant principal in Ceres before coming to Hughson.

“I cannot think of anyone I would rather work with at the district level,” Hughson Superintendent Brenda Smith wrote in her nominating letter. “Carrie is focused on doing what is in the best interests of our students.”

Region 7 includes five counties and hundreds of school administrators in Central California, adding to the prestige of Duckart’s award.

Duckart called the recognition “a humbling experience.”

Smith praised Duckart’s leadership – not just within the district, but also among other assistant superintendents in Stanislaus County. Smith said Duckart is respected for “creating processes and systems that help everyone understand their role and responsibility.”

“Her forward thinking helped our district navigate the COVID pandemic and recovery efforts,” said Smith, adding that Duckart established “a very strong mental health support group … that has grown over the past few years under her leadership.”

Jeff Persons works with Duckart as principal at Fox Road Elementary School. He also praised her leadership during the pandemic and its aftermath.

“She provided outstanding and varied resources to address the academic and social/emotional needs that emerged in our students,” Persons said. “This exceptional support was mirrored by professional development opportunities that were unequaled in my experience.”

Eric Petersen, Hughson’s director of student support systems, praised Duckart for employing “a data-driven approach to decision making.”

“By examining metrics, she identifies areas for improvement and implements targeted strategies,” he said. “Her ability to translate data into action fuels positive changes in the district.”

Erin Cross, director of district and school support for the Stanislaus County Office of Education, has worked with Duckart for many years in the area of teacher training.

“She has developed deep relationships with teachers and staff to know their individual strengths and areas for growth,” Cross wrote in a letter of recommendation to ACSA. “She is thoughtful about staff capacity for change and careful to support them where they are, respecting them as professionals.”

Duckart will receive her award in South Lake Tahoe on May 3 at the ACSA Region 7 Conference.