The superintendent of Bismarck Public Schools is making history... Dr. Paul Johnson is the first North Dakota school superintendent to be named a finalist for the National Superintendent of the Year Award. Johnson will compete against three other finalists from Florida, West Virginia and Louisiana during a series of interviews in mid-January. The interviews will be done in Washington D-C. Judges will announce their decision in February. Johnson became superintendent in Bismarck in 2001. He came from the south St. Paul, Minnesota school district. But most of Johnson's career has been in North Dakota. Before working in Minnesotahe was superintendent in Valley City for five years. Johnson says he is in awe to be in the same group as the other nominees.