The top administrator of one of Oregon’s largest school districts was announced as a finalist for the national superintendent of the year award Tuesday.

Gustavo Balderas was named state superintendent of the year in September and joins three other finalists for the national award, which will be announced in February. Balderas has led the Eugene School District since 2015.

In that time, Balderas has boosted the ranks of people of color in administrative positions. About 40% of Eugene principals and around one-third of administrators are people of color, according to district figures.

“Dr. Balderas has been an exceptional leader for our schools and has transformed the way we look at education for our kids,” Anne Marie Levis, chairwoman of the Eugene School Board said in a statement. “He is laser-focused on results for our students, insightful in the work that he does and knowledgeable about what makes a difference for our students and their achievement.”

The national School Superintendents Association in a news release said it judges candidates based on their leadership, communication, professionalism and community involvement. The organization will announce the winner during its national conference in mid-February.

The prize? A $10,000 scholarship for a high school student either enrolled in the winner’s current district or their alma mater.

Balderas has spent the majority of his professional career in Oregon schools but took a four-year detour to lead two districts in California. Balderas, the son of migrant farm workers, grew up in the eastern Oregon town of Nyssa before earning his bachelor’s degree in education at Western Oregon University in 1990.

He earned a master’s in educational, instructional and curriculum supervision at Portland State in 2001 and a PhD in educational leadership and administration at the University of Oregon.

Balderas went on to work for the Hillsboro School District, where he was a teacher, school principal and later an administrator.

“Gus is a listener, collaborator and strategic problem solver. He is a constant source of counsel and information for myself and other educators throughout the state of Oregon and beyond,” Hillsboro Superintendent Mike Scott said in a statement.

Balderas was a founding member of the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. He’s also a member of the national Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.

He’ll interview for the national prize, along with the three other finalists, in January.