If there was any doubt that Jon Bales would be a good fit for the DeForest School District, it was quickly erased when he arrived here nearly a decade ago.

The School Board had set up a program to solicit input from residents about the future direction of the district. Another superintendent might have been more eager to put his own stamp on the district. But Bales embraced the project, which led to a renewed commitment to technology, quality facilities and individualized learning programs.

"When we did that, it just really made a connection between the district and the community," said Bales, 56. "For me that was one of the most gratifying things we've done. All that community input is like gold."

In February, the district plans to hold a similar program, this time looking to the year 2025.

Bales' role in implementing those goals is among the reasons he has been named Wisconsin's 2009 Superintendent of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

For Bales, the award borders on embarrassing, and he's quick to shine the spotlight on others.

"I think it speaks well of the district," he said, adding that individuals rarely accomplish much in education — the work is almost always done in groups.

But colleagues say the honor is well deserved.

"In knowing other superintendents during my life, he is really the first superintendent who became immersed in the entire community," said Dennis O'Loughlin, who represents the DeForest area on the Dane County Board, has served with Bales in various organizations and wrote a recommendation letter for the award. "He always, always has the district number one in his mind."

Peter O'Neil, the district's director of instruction, said Bales' efforts helped pass a referendum to expand the high school, not long after he joined the district.

"We needed more room," O'Neil said, but previous referendums had failed, and it was clear the community didn't want to build a new high school. "(Bales) really has a talent to bring the community together."

Bales participates in a long roster of boards and organizations, including serving on the board of directors for Thrive, a regional economic development entity, and the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. He is past president of both the DeForest Area Chamber of Commerce and the DeForest/Vienna/Windsor Growth Corp., and is vice chairman of the Madison Area Technical College Board.

Before coming to DeForest, Bales worked for the Davenport, Iowa, School District from 1977 to 1998, serving as principal, district director and director of administration.

When he's not attending meetings, Bales spends his free time hiking — and visiting his two children, each on a different coast — now that he and his wife, Barbara, are empty-nesters. He especially enjoys this time of year "because in the holiday season people are just genuinely warm and kind and caring."