Northern Lehigh School Board President Mathias Green announced at Monday’s board meeting that Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link was nominated by his colleagues in Lehigh County to be the Outstanding Small School Superintendent in the nation.

Green stressed that it wasn’t just for Lehigh County or for Pennsylvania, but in the nation.

“It’s like the Academy Award; just getting nominated puts you head and shoulders above, and this was a nomination by his colleagues in Lehigh County advancing his name for that,” Green said. “And I just want to say congratulations Dr. Link for that extreme honor, and I hope you win but if you don’t, it’s still a wonderful, wonderful opportunity and thank you very much for everything you do.”

After the meeting, Link said he was nominated by another Lehigh County superintendent.

Link said the award he was nominated for is from the National Association of School Superintendents, and is for Demonstrating Overall Leadership Excellence in a District of Less than 2,500 Students.

“It is an honor just to be nominated, and it means much more when it comes from my colleagues in Lehigh County,” Link said. “I appreciate that the National Association of School Superintendents does a recognition for smaller school districts.

“There is truly something special about working in a smaller district, and in a close-knit community like Northern Lehigh. The nomination is really a reflection on the work being done by all of our faculty, staff and administrative team. They work so hard every day for our students.”

This isn’t the first time Link has been heralded for his leadership in the district.

In May, Link received the Cooperative Leadership Award by the Lehigh University School Study Council.

That award recognizes outstanding leadership within the National School Development Council or on its behalf, including exemplary efforts to establish cooperative relationships with other educational agencies or school study councils in creating programs for the nation’s schools.