The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

Administrator of the Year

MIJA strives to honor administrators who support journalism in our schools. To recognize an administrator who has provided outstanding service to journalism, a teacher or students can nominate him or her.

For example, an administrator might have helped build a strong journalism program or defended the program from criticism. The administrator might have fought battles for the school press, student press freedom, or may have provided exceptional or out-of-the ordinary resources for the program.

The components of the Missouri AOY process align with those of the national JEA AOY process.

TO APPLY:

The nominating teacher should submit an application including a letter of nomination and supporting materials to the judge and the MIJA office using the online submission form by Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025.

  • Application: Administrator of the Year
    • In the letter of nomination, please explain the kind of support given and ensure the reason for your nomination is clear.
    • Current photo
    • Please complete the submission form.
  • The nominating teacher may choose to add optional* supporting documents, which would help the judge make a decision:
    • Up to three additional one-page letters of support
    • A one-page resume of the nominee
    • Copies of articles or links to articles about or by the nominee (limit four pages)
    • Please scan and upload as .PDF or .JPG files to the submission form

* The optional supporting materials are required at the national level, but not for the state level.

SUBMIT ALL MATERIALS using our Online Submission Form

DEADLINE: Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025

The honoree and/or the nominator will be invited to prepare a 30-second acceptance video to run at the spring Journalism Day on the MU campus.

JUDGES: MIJA Board of Directors members who do not have an administrator nominated.

QUESTIONS: If you have questions about the process, please contact the MIJA office at [email protected].

Past state honorees include:

  • 1970 – Armin H. Bueker, Superintendent, Marshall
  • 1971 – W. L. Bowden, Principal, North Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 1972 – Marvin E. Fleming, Principal, Jefferson City Senior High School, Jefferson City
  • 1973 – Hal Johnson, Superintendent, Adrian Public Schools, Adrian
  • 1974 – LeRoy Brown, Principal, Truman High School, Independence
  • 1975 – Walter Bruens, Superintendent, Harrisonville Public Schools, Harrisonville
  • 1976 – Bud Routh, Principal, Camdenton High School, Camdenton
  • 1977 – William G. McCrary, Principal, Grandview High School, Grandview
  • 1978 – Donald Duchek, Principal, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 1979 – Dr. Robert Blaine, Principal, Blue Springs High School, Blue Springs
  • 1980 – H. Mitchell Hanna, Principal, Maryville High School, Maryville
  • 1981 – Dahlman J. Davis, Principal, Odessa High School and Thomas Herrick, Principal, William Chrisman High School, Independence
  • 1982 – Donald Shull, Superintendent, Raymore-Peculiar Public Schools, Peculiar
  • 1983 – Dean Collopy, Principal, Center High School, Kansas City
  • 1984 – Dr. Gary Chesley, Assistant Principal, Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield
  • 1985 – William Gist, Principal, Hillcrest High School, Springfield
  • 1986 – William McCrary, Larry Downing and Keith Tempel, Grandview High School, Grandview
  • 1987 – R.C. Ramsey, Principal, Savannah High School, Savannah
  • 1988 – Ed Ferguson, Superintendent, Mexico Public Schools, Mexico
  • 1989 – Franklin McCallie, Principal, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 1990 – Dr. Clark Cilek, Principal, St. Charles West High School, St. Charles
  • 1991 – Dr. Larry Humphries, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, and Principal Dr. Thomas Keating, Kirkwood R-7 Schools, Superintendent
  • 1992 – Dr. John Laurie, Principal, Hillcrest High School, Springfield
  • 1993 – Molly J. Clemons, Vice Principal, Truman High School, Independence
  • 1994 – Robert Perry, Superintendent, Mansfield School District, Mansfield
  • 1996 – Terry Salfan, Associate Principal, Hazelwood Central High School, Florissant
  • 1997 – Don Hugo, Principal, Clayton High School, St. Louis
  • 1998 – Dr. Robert Watkins, Superintendent, Independence School District, Independence
  • 1999 – Gary Drummond, Principal, Rockwood Summit School District, Fenton
  • 2000 – Bennie Cain, Principal, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2001 – Dr. Richard Pemberton, Principal, Jefferson City High School, Jefferson City
  • 2002 – Dr. Don Senti, District Superintendent, Clayton High School, St. Louis; and Joe Petrich, Principal, Waynesville Middle School, Waynesville
  • 2003 – Dwight Jones, Principal, Boonville High School, Boonville
  • 2005 – David Laughlin, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City
  • 2006 – Dr. Phil Wright, Liberty High School, Liberty
  • 2007 – Dr. Darlene Jones, Principal, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles
  • 2008 – Dr. Kathy Ritter, Principal, Rock Bridge High School, Columbia
  • 2009 – Dr. Keith Shahan, Headmaster, John Burroughs School, St. Louis
  • 2010 – Dr. Fred Skretta, Principal, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2011 – Dr. David Holley, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 2012 – Dr. Chris Greiner, Principal, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2013 – Dr. John Faulkenberry, Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit
  • 2015 – Dr. Todd White, Superintendent of North Kansas City Schools, Kansas City
  • 2016 – Chris Kilbride, Superintendent of Ritenour Schools, Ritenour
  • 2017 – Clark Mershon, Principal, Staley High School, Kansas City
  • 2018 – —-
  • 2019 – Dr. Martin Jacobs, Principal, Liberty North High School, Liberty
  • 2020 – Dr. Dave Wedlock, Principal, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2021 – David Kelly, Ed.D, Principal, Nixa High School, Nixa
  • 2022 – —-
  • 2023 – Alex Von Delft, Principal, Knox County R-1 High School, Edina
  • 2024 – Jeffrey Fletcher, Principal, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles

Past national honorees include:

  • 1971 –  William L. Bowden, Kirkwood Junior High School, Kirkwood
  • 1999 – Franklin McCallie, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood