Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amie Carter has been recognized by the North Bay Business Journal with a 2026 Influential Women Award.

In recognizing Carter, the publication highlighted the work she leads at the Sonoma County Office of Education to improve literacy outcomes and foster a sense of belonging at schools countywide.

Carter told the publication about her background and how raising five daughters with very different personalities and needs has shaped her approach as an educational leader.

“There was no single approach that worked for all of them,” she said. “Each needed something different to feel seen, supported and able to thrive. It reinforced for me that success is not about expecting individuals to fit into a system — it’s about building systems that respond to the needs of individuals.”