Dr. Larry Ewing, Superintendent of the Fort Osage R-1 School District and the 2008 Missouri Superintendent of the Year (center) with Roger Kurtz, Executive Director of the Missouri Association of School Administrators and Maria Altomare, representing PFM Asset Management, LLC sponsor of the award.

Dr. Larry Ewing, Superintendent of the Fort Osage R-I School District has been named the Missouri Superintendent of the Year by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA). The announcement of the award was made during the Missouri School Boards' Association and MASA joint fall conference held at Tan-Tar-A Resort, October 26-28.

As the winner of this award, Ewing received a plaque acknowledging his selection; a $500 scholarship for a student in the Fort Osage R-I School District and a commemorative ring. The award is sponsored by the PFM Asset Management, LLC the program administrator for the Missouri Securities Investment Program. As the recipient of this award, Ewing will represent Missouri in the national Superintendent of the Year program conducted by the American Association of School Administrators.

Ewing has been employed by the Fort Osage R-I School District as Superintendent of Schools since July, 2002. Previously, he served as Superintendent of Schools in the Rolla, Kennett and El Dorado and Iberia school districts and as a high school principal in the Nixa School District.

In nominating Ewing for the award, Sharon Dankenbring, President of the Fort Osage R-I School District Board of Education said, "His vision and leadership demonstrate his dedication to educational excellence and service. Dr. Ewing's ability to motivate and empower others for the purpose of providing the best educational opportunities for every child is evidenced in unique programs such as a K-12 behavioral management school, inclusion of a delinquent institution, a career technical center, special education early childhood center, and an advance placement program to name a few.

"Under Ewing's leadership, the school district has focused on student achievement. The district has moved from being classified as 'provisionally accredited' to achieving 13 of the 14 Missouri School Improvement Performance (MSIP) standards."

Ewing is a past president of the MASA, the Greater Kansas City Administrators Association, and the Greater Kansas City Cooperating School Districts. He was elected by his colleagues in 2003 and again in 2006 to serve on the Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators. Ewing is currently the co-chair of the MASA Legislative Committee.

Ewing is also currently serving as the Chairman of the Board for Special Olympics Missouri and as President of the Rotary Club of Independence. He is presently serving as a member of the board of directors for the Independence Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors for Independence Council for Economic Development, and the board of directors for the Missouri United School Insurance Council.