The Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) has selected Dr. Jeremy Tucker, Superintendent of Liberty Public Schools, 2019 Superintendent of the Year, during its annual fall conference held September 27-30, at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, Missouri.
MASA Executive Director, Doug Hayter, stated, “Dr. Tucker embodies so many of the qualities of a great school leader. His staff and community know that he is dedicated to a ‘student-centered’ approach to education and other educational leaders in Missouri and across the country call on Dr. Tucker for his insights into the best ways to effectively guide the learning process in a school district.”
Dr. Tucker is in his fifth year as Superintendent of the Liberty Public Schools in Liberty, Missouri. Under his leadership, the district embarked on a facility master planning process that resulted in the passage of a $49 million no-tax increase bond issue with 82% voter approval. In 2017 Liberty Public Schools was accepted into the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools. Dr. Tucker was named as a recipient of the “20 to Watch” educators for 2016-2017 by the National School Boards Association.
Prior to arriving in Liberty, Dr. Tucker served as Superintendent, High School Principal, Teacher, and Coach in the Logan-Rogersville School District in Rogersville, Missouri. His first position in school administration was in the Dallas County School District in Buffalo, Missouri, where he served as a High School Assistant Principal. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Evangel University, Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Southwest Baptist University, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University. Although born in Missouri, Dr. Tucker spent 12 years overseas with stays in France, Togo, and Burkina Faso.
Dr. Tucker shared that when he first started at Liberty, his entry plan centered around the question, “What does it mean to be learner-centered?” Through a series of listening and learning interviews, district leadership team meetings, and community engagement, the district established its Vision Priorities including: relationships, informed decision making, personalization, learner agency, and growth mindset. The district continues to follow these priorities.
The Liberty Public Schools are known for their high academic performance, as well as being leaders in innovation through 1:1 technology integration, Northland CAPS, arts integration and STEAM, EPiC Elementary, Open Educational Resources, and Project Based Learning. All these innovations increase engagement and creativity, but Dr. Tucker wanted to push forward and this included making gains in diversity, equity and inclusion. This has been realized in part with the work done to identify lower socioeconomic students and students of color who were under-represented in high level courses such as Advance Placement, Honors and Duel Credit.
Communications is a vital aspect of the work of Dr. Tucker and the Liberty Public Schools. Among the methods of delivering the district’s message are ongoing contact with internal and external audiences, monthly Coffee with the Community, State of the District meetings at all LPS buildings, social media, and regular contact with district parent groups.
Dr. Tucker will be recognized during the AASA National Conference on Education in Los Angeles in February 2019 for his state selection.
The Missouri Association of School Administrators is the statewide association of public school superintendents and central office administrators. MASA develops and supports effective public school leaders who positively impact the lives of Missouri students.
