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Larry Vick , superintendent of the Owensboro Public Schools,was named Kentucky’s 2008 Superintendent of the Year, at the KASS winter conference in Louisville.
KASA Executive Director Wayne Young and Scientific Learning’s Dave Conway presented Vick with the award, which included a commemorative eagle sculpture and a $2,000 scholarship for a high school senior at Owensboro Public Schools (OPS).
Nominated by Dr. George Gilliam, chairman of the OPS Board of Education, Vick is credited with bringing a world-class education to the district’s students. In 2006, Standard & Poor named OPS one of 18 from among 176 Kentucky districts that is outperforming expectations based on reading and math proficiency. In addition, OPS won a Magna Award and made page one of USA Today for healthy lifestyle programs; won the Kentucky School Boards Association spring 2005 PEAK Award for the district’s fine and performing arts curriculum; opened an alternative school campus for grades 6-12; partnered with the Owensboro Community and Technical College to develop Kentucky’s first “early college” program for at-risk students, and much more that has significantly raised the bar on academic excellence. Under Vick’s leadership, the district is embarking on a $20 million high school expansion project that none would have thought possible five years ago.
“We have been the beneficiary of his broad experience and our children’s educational experiences have been greatly improved because of him,” said Gilliam.
At the age of 26, Vick was named superintendent of the Carroll County (TN) School District. He served there 12 years before becoming superintendent of the Paris (TN) Special School District from 1986 to 2001. He became superintendent of the Owensboro Public School District in July 2001.
The Kentucky Superintendent of the Year Award is a steppingstone to AASA’s national award, and is given annually to one superintendent who has demonstrated outstanding education leadership, creativity in meeting the diverse needs of students, strength in professional and personal communication, consistent professional development as well as motivation of district staff, and active involvement in the community. Vick will join 49 other superintendents from across the nation for consideration as the National Superintendent of the Year, a program which includes a $10,000 student scholarship.
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