For more than a decade, Ryan Bahten has worked to ensure that geography and circumstance never limit educational opportunity for students in one of California’s most remote regions.

As director of Information Network Services for Del Norte Unified School District and Del Norte County Office of Education, Bahten has made equitable access to technology the cornerstone of his leadership. Serving a rural community where nearly 70 percent of families are socioeconomically disadvantaged and many lack reliable internet access, he has led efforts to secure grants, expand infrastructure and provide students with the devices and connectivity needed to fully participate in their education. His efforts have earned recognition as ACSA’s 2026 Classified Leader of the Year.

Since joining the district as a computer technician in 2013 and advancing to director in 2015, Bahten has transformed educational technology systems across the district and county. Under his leadership, every classroom has access to the connectivity and digital resources necessary to support instruction, while students, families and staff receive timely support from a highly skilled technology team he developed and mentors.

Colleagues describe Bahten as a trusted expert who understands the instructional needs of schools and helps educators integrate technology in meaningful ways. He pays particular attention to traditionally underserved students, including those with special needs, ensuring they have access to assistive technologies and other supports that remove barriers to learning.

Bahten is also recognized for his commitment to cybersecurity, data protection and responsible technology use. He consistently prioritizes the safety of students and staff while helping district leaders navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Since joining ACSA in 2020, Bahten has taken on multiple leadership roles, currently serving as treasurer of Del Norte Charter and as director at large for Region 1.

Driven by a simple question — “How does this support students and families?” — Bahten’s leadership continues to strengthen access, opportunity and innovation throughout Del Norte County.

“Throughout his career, Ryan has consistently demonstrated that he is committed to improving and enhancing the lives of children and their families,” said Jeff Harris, Del Norte USD and Del Norte County superintendent of schools. “His dedication and devotion to the programs he has created or been involved with in the Del Norte Unified School District have had a positive impact on the lives of students and families and the collaborative efforts of our staff.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? People, time, and money. It always comes down to one (or more) of these things when needing to solve a problem. And in the K-12 education world money is often a limiting factor, so learning to most effectively leverage our time becomes a critical area of focus. And without people nothing happens; people are the cornerstone of our operation, and providing the necessary support for our people to continue to grow and learn and perform effectively must always be at the forefront of my mind.

What are some life hacks that you would recommend for a new administrator? Surround yourself with smarter people than you are. But always remember to make all your decisions with the best interests of the children we educate first. There will be many complex situations encountered, and sometimes the “best” or “easiest” path for the operations and teams you lead won’t necessarily align with what is best for our kids and their education. You’ll never be wrong for putting the best interests of children first. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help — just because you’re “in charge” doesn’t mean you have to have every single answer, every single time.

What would people be surprised to learn about you? I’m not the biggest lover of technology! Sure, it absolutely has a crucial place in society, and in our educational system. But given the option to push new tech into classrooms or push improvements in interpersonal skills and human interaction growth, I’m choosing the latter options 10 times out of 10.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your current position? Coming to terms (to some extent, at least) that I will never be caught up, I will never be done, I will never have all the answers I need, and there will always be another task in front of me. The workload is significant and can absolutely be crushing if I allow it to be. I was fortunate to recognize how critical the right team around me was early in my tenure, and also how it was up to me to grow that team in size and in skill if we were to be successful.

How has ACSA supported you in your career? ACSA has provided additional avenues for my professional development and my growth as a leader. I value every opportunity I can find to grow, and ACSA is one of the organizations I have been able to leverage growth opportunities through. Taking the additional steps to get involved at our local ACSA charter level also helped in developing and deepening relationships with other leaders in our organization, which I have found to be incredibly valuable.

The theme for this year’s Leadership Summit is “You Belong Here: Leadership for Every Student.” What does belonging look like for you, your staff or your students? Belonging, to me, looks like being excited to walk in the door of the office every day knowing I’ve got a supportive team around me, working collectively and collaboratively towards a similar goal. Belonging is being an active part of the creation and ongoing development of a departmental and organizational culture that puts the education of our children first.