On Valentine’s Day, we lost a piece of the heart of MASA. After what can only be described as her courageous 22-month journey through an awful illness, Dr. Lynne Kovash passed away.
Lynne spent her entire education career with the Moorhead Area Public Schools. She served as Superintendent for nine years, retiring after her cancer diagnosis in 2017. Prior to her superintendency, she was the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Supervisor of Planning and Assessment, Assistant Principal, and a Special Education Teacher.
What truly set Lynne apart was how she treated everyone she came into contact with. Lynne was a caring and compassionate person. She always had a smile on her face and made you feel like you were the most important person in the room.
Lynne wanted every student to be successful! She made decisions based on that desire. She was a magnificent role model for her staff and community.
She was an active member of MASA and AASA. She served as MASA President in 2014-15 and was a member of the AASA Governing Board. Lynne was a coach in the MASA Aspiring Superintendent Academy. Throughout her leadership career, she served multiple times on all of the MASA committees and the MASA Foundation Board.
Last fall, Lynne received the MASA Polaris Leadership Award in recognition of her excellent leadership and many contributions to Minnesota education. Although she was not feeling perfectly well, Lynne attended the event and when she accepted the award, she spoke about how grateful she was. With her humble servant leadership, Lynne has left us all a legacy of inspiration and learning.
We will miss her!
