Administrator of the Year
The KSPA Administrator of the Year Award recognizes secondary school administrators who have supported the First Amendment and the school’s journalism department. The winner is honored with a plaque at the State Celebration in May, following a presentation at the administrator’s home school district.
Application requirements:
- Supports the Kansas Student Publications Act and the First Amendment
- Provides adequate and appropriate financial support for student media
- Understands the importance of journalism’s place in a complete secondary school curriculum
- Encourages academic and professional growth, both for students and for journalism teachers
- Provides personal support and encouragement for students and journalism advisers
Nomination requirement:
Submit a nomination letter that details the administrator’s support of scholastic journalism based on the above criteria.
NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR 2025.
Past Administrator of the Year winners include:
- 1990, Gary Graber, Nickerson High School
- 1991, James Baker, Maize High School
- 1992, Jim Heiman, F.L. Schlagle High School
- 1995, Robert Little, Phillipsburg High School
- 1997, Bill Edwards, Washburn Rural High School
- 1999, E. Jane Botz, Salina High School South
- 2000, William D. Parker, McPherson High School
- 2001, Rebecca Lisher & Warren Watson, Shawnee Heights High School
- 2003, Rick Weiss, Chase County High School
- 2004, Larry Bernard, Russell High School
- 2007, Ted Berard, Lawrence Free State High School
- 2008, Ken Thiessen, Wichita East High School
- 2011, Bill Anderson of Sterling High School
- 2012, Jack Koehn of Canton-Galva High School
- 2013, Charles McLean of Shawnee Mission West High School
- 2015, Jon Bishop of Pittsburg High School
- 2016, Dr. Linda Wiley of Topeka High School
- 2017, Doug Sallee of Junction City High School
- 2018, Marla Hayden of Wichita Public Schools
- 2019, Tim Hamblin of Derby High School
- 2020, Chris Botts of Maize High School
- 2022, Administrative Team from USD 383
- 2023, Gail Holder, Mill Valley High School
- 2024, Dr. Sean DeMaree, Olathe South High School
- 2025, Dr. Ryan Flurry, Shawnee Mission School District CTE director
Here are the five Administrator of the Year criteria:
- Supports the Kansas Student Publications Act and the First Amendment
- Provides adequate and appropriate financial support for student media
- Understands the importance of journalism’s place in a complete secondary school curriculum
- Encourages academic and professional growth, both for students and for journalism teachers
- Provides personal support and encouragement for students and journalism advisers