The leader of the district that serves more than 74,000 students across Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake, and Farmington is now Utah's candidate for the nation's top superintendent award.

Davis School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford, named 2026 Utah Superintendent of the Year on July 30, will represent the state in the 2027 AASA National Superintendent of the Year competition, according to the district's announcement. The national application deadline is November 1, with finalists interviewed at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. in January and the winner announced at the AASA National Conference on Education in February.

"This is a tremendous honor, especially because it comes from colleagues whom I respect so deeply," Linford said at the surprise ceremony, held after he delivered a keynote address at the district's Summer Leadership Conference at Syracuse High School. "There are remarkable superintendents across this state doing extraordinary work for children every day, so to be recognized by them means more than I can express."

Dr. Lexi Cunningham, executive director of the Utah School Superintendents Association, presented the award and praised Linford's impact on the district and the state.

A Clearfield grad who led Viewmont

Linford is a product of the system he now runs. He graduated from Clearfield High School, earned a bachelor's degree in English teaching from Weber State University, and holds a master's degree and doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. He started as a high school English teacher in 1999, became assistant principal at Viewmont High School in Bountiful in 2006, and served as Viewmont's principal from 2011 to 2016. He moved into a secondary director role before the Davis School District Board of Education appointed him superintendent in July 2022.

He is the district's 19th superintendent. For the past year, he has also served as president of the 43-member Utah School Superintendents Association.

National competition timeline and school year start

The AASA program, now in its 39th year, judges candidates on leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. Linford's nomination comes as Davis School District prepares for its first day of school on Thursday, August 20, with ongoing priorities around curriculum, school safety, and equitable resource distribution across the district's 90-plus schools.

As we reported July 31, the surprise ceremony caught Linford off guard after his keynote speech.