RLR Welcomes Tobin Novasio to the Team

August 23, 2026•5 min read

RLR Welcomes Tobin Novasio to the Team

"RLR Leadership Consulting is proud to announce that Tobin Novasio, a distinguished and award-winning leader, has joined the RLR Family. We are so excited to have Tobin join us and his dedication and service will be very impactful as we continue to grow and develop our service and support of others," said Randy Russell, RLR President and Founder.

Tobin S. Novasio is a veteran educational leader with more than two decades of experience in the superintendency including serving in rural, suburban and tribal communities. Throughout his career, he became known for visionary leadership, collaborative problem-solving, and a steadfast commitment to innovation, educational equity, and student well-being.

Following his retirement from public education in Montana after a distinguished career as a superintendent, he now serves as Superintendent in Residence for the Cook Center for Human Connection, where he partners with school systems nationwide to strengthen student mental health, family engagement, and school-community partnerships.

In Montana, Tobin has been a respected leader in public education, serving as President of the Montana Rural Education Association Board of Directors and previously serving for nearly a decade on the Montana Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Board of Directors, including a term as President. During his tenure he was recognized as the MASS Montana Superintendent of the Year (2016) and received the SAM G.V. Erickson Award (2020), Montana's highest honor for school administrators.

Additionally, he worked with school boards which were twice recognized as the Montana School Board of the Year (2015, 2020). Mr. Novasio has also overseen extensive school facilities work including design, bond passage, and construction of the award-winning Lockwood High School facility and opening a pubic-charter alternative high school, the Big Horn Academy.

Nationally, Tobin has contributed extensively to educational leadership through service on the AASA Governing Board, AASA Executive Committee, and the AASA American Rescue Plan Committee. He co- leads AASA's Leadership for Wellbeing and Learning Cohort, supporting superintendents committed to improving student wellness and academic success. His leadership has also included service on the Horace Mann League of the USA Board of Directors, the Hope Squad National Advisory Board, the Cook Center Advisory Council, and with the Urban Superintendents Association of America.

A passionate advocate for rural and tribal schools, mental health, and leadership development, Tobin has mentored aspiring and practicing school leaders through the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program and served as a volunteer faculty facilitator for Deloitte University's Super Courageous Initiative.

He is a sought- after speaker and presenter at state and national conferences, including the AASA National Conference on Education, the National Forum to Advance Rural Education, the Montana Conference for Educational Leadership and the Urban Superintendents Association of America Leadership Institute.

Today, Tobin continues his lifelong mission of supporting school leaders and helping districts create environments where students, families, and educators can thrive. Drawing on decades of executive leadership experience, he works with educational organizations across the country to advance mental health initiatives, strengthen family engagement, build resilient school communities, coach administrators and help facilitate better board governance.

Tobin holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Montana State University and a Bachelor's degree from Rocky Mountain College. He and his wife, Tandi, are the proud parents of three children Kane, Kyson, and Addison; whose unwavering support has been a constant throughout his career in education.

Serve. Support. Help Leaders and Their Organizations.

– Randy L. Russell, Ph.D.
President, RLR Leadership Consulting

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RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

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