SOUTH PORTLAND – South Portland Superintendent Suzanne Godin has been named Maine’s 2012 Superintendent of the Year from the Maine School Superintendents Association.

Godin received accolades for her focus on student achievement and her ability to generate community support for the city’s schools, the group said.

Godin, who has been superintendent in South Portland since 2007, was selected by a committee of her colleagues, including former award recipients, Maine School Superintendents Association officers, and presidents of Maine’s superintendent regions.

She received the award on Oct. 26 at the Maine School Superintendents Association annual meeting in Augusta.

Godin served as assistant superintendent in South Portland before being named superintendent. Prior to that she was a principal in MSAD 51 serving Cumberland and North Yarmouth.

South Portland School Board member Karen Callaghan nominated Godin for the award, calling her an “absolute dynamo.”

“I have never known anyone so knowledgeable about all aspects of education,” said Callaghan.

This was critical during the campaign to get voter support in 2010 for a major renovation and expansion of South Portland High School. That project is expected to go out to bid in December.

“Suzanne’s leadership in the school department, her dedication to the project and her willingness to provide information at all hours and at a moment’s notice were crucial to the passage of the bond measure,” said Jeffrey Selser, the spokesman for the group that backed the project.

Suzanne Godin