Eva Pohl Receives MASE Legacy Award
May 15, 2026
The Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE) has named Eva Pohl, Director of Special Education for Park Rapids Area Schools, as recipient of the 2026 MASE Legacy Award. Pohl receives this award for her longstanding commitment to students with disabilities and their families, and her exceptional leadership and mentoring. She will be honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASE Fall Leadership Conference in Brainerd on October 22, 2026.
“Across every stage of her journey, Eva has contributed meaningfully to the growth and development of others. She is intentional about coaching emerging professionals, nurturing talent within her member districts, and offering guidance grounded in deep knowledge and calm, steady leadership,” wrote Renae Donahue, Executive Director/Director of Education for Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council, in her letter of support. “Her commitment to the field extends far beyond her formal roles. Eva is a mentor, a collaborator, and a trusted resource. She models best practice through reflective decision-making, clear communication, and a student-centered mindset... Eva has made a difference at every level—local, regional, and statewide.”
Pohl has served as Director of Special Education for Park Rapids Area Schools since 2015. Prior to that, she served as Special Education Supervisor (2012-2015), Special Education Coordinator (2004-2012), and E/BD Teacher (1995-2004) at Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council. She has also served as a Special Education Teacher and Title 1 Paraprofessional.
Pohl has been a dedicated member of MASE for many years, serving the association in many capacities—including as Board Member, Regional Representative, and as a member of the Legislative and Nominations Committees. She has also served as a reviewer for the MNSELF Stenswick-Benson Scholarship.
Beyond MASE, Pohl’s leadership includes serving on the advisory board of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Start STEP UP, as Minnesota Department of Education MN CIMP Peer Monitor, as a Peer Mentor with Minnesota Institute of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, and as a committee member for Hubbard County Extension and Hubbard In Prevention.
Pohl earned a Sixth Year Program in Educational Administration and Leadership from St. Cloud State University; her Master of Science in Special Education from Bemidji State University; her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead; and a Certificate of Accounting from Alexandria Area Vocational Technical Institute. She is licensed as a Director of Special Education, Principal K-12, and District Superintendent, as well as K-12 Emotional Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities, and Elementary Education (1-6).
MASE is a professional association organized to promote programs and services to improve the education of children with disabilities, to foster high quality programs of professional development, and to study problems relating to serving children with disabilities and improving the leadership of administrators for special education. MASE members are administrators for special education in public or private schools, cooperative regional, state and other education administrative units, college and university professors of special education teacher or administrator preparation programs, and administrators, coordinators or consultants for the Minnesota Department of Education.