Butler County Schools Superintendent Amy Bryan was named Alabama Community Education Association Superintendent of the Year for the southeast region, as well as the overall state, on Thursday at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

Bryan has been at the helm of the county’s school system since March of 2014 when she was appointed to the position following the departure of former superintendent Darren Douthitt.

Each year the ACEA awards three regional awards.

“It was an honor to be recognized by this state organization, but very nice to have nine Butler County educators that are ACEA members there, plus my mom and daughter, all proud of and for Butler County Schools,” Bryan said. “Our schools play a great role in our communities of Greenville, Georgiana and McKenzie, and it is an honor to be recognized for those extra things we do beyond the regular school day. I share this award with the entire Butler County School System, as I’m sure it is not so much my leadership but hopefully my vision and teamwork with our full team that creates the success.”

Bryan was nominated for the honor by Rheta McClain, administrative assistant for learning supports for the Butler County Schools System.

“Mrs. Bryan understands that communities are only as strong as the schools and that schools are only as strong as the community support they have,” McClain wrote in her letter to the ACEA. “In her 27 years as a Butler County educator, she has been involved in educating all ages including working with an on-campus daycare, Pre-K programs, K-12 schools, dropout recovery, parenting education, and adult education programs. Currently as superintendent, she’s working on a project to open our career tech center for community classes by working with our economic development commission. She works tirelessly to find funding for educational opportunities of all kinds and always seeks for ways to use the school as a bridge between families and community.

“Mrs. Bryan has put her stamp on Butler County Schools due to her community-building efforts and belief in lifelong learning.”

Prior to being named superintendent, Bryan was the system’s federal programs director. In that role Bryan has been responsible for the oversight of grants and federal funds totaling more than $4 million a year.

She was also instrumental in expanding the system’s Pre-K program and helping the county’s Bright Beginnings program earn recognition as a Banner School by the Council of Leaders in Alabama Schools. She helped launch the Second Chance Dropout Recovery Program and helped begin Operation Graduation Dropout Prevention.

Bryan spent the first 13 years of her career as a teacher in the Butler County School System before moving into administration.