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 The announcement was made Tuesday, December 4, at a ceremony held in conjunction with the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents’ winter conference at the Galt House Hotel & Suites in Louisville.
The award program, co-sponsored by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) and Scientific Learning, recognizes outstanding leadership among the ranks of superintendents. Vick was chosen for the award by a statewide judging panel, and will be recognized with a $2,000 scholarship for an Owensboro student and a commemorative eagle sculpture. In addition, he will join 49 other superintendents from across the nation for consideration as the National Superintendent of the Year, a program sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), which includes a $10,000 student scholarship.
“Dr. Vick has exhibited an incredible level of energy and vision since the day he became superintendent in Owensboro,” said Wayne Young, KASA executive director. “He has established a reputation as a quiet, effective leader among his colleagues and will be an outstanding representative at the national level for the superintendents in Kentucky.”
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. At the helm of OPS, a district of 4300 students in preschool through grades 12, Vick has implemented a series of standardized tests to assist teachers with differentiated instruction, increased CATS test scores, strived to engage all students in extracurricular activities, introduced an elementary intramural sports program, added piano keyboarding and daily elementary Spanish lessons to the curriculum, renovated and expanded facilities, and hosts an annual Fine Arts Fair.
“We have been the beneficiary of his broad experience and our children’s educational experiences have been greatly improved because of him,” said Gilliam.
Vick is known for basing all instructional decisions on brain research, best practices, and innovative thinking. In 2006, Standard & Poor named OPS one of 18 from among 176 Kentucky districts that are “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.
Vick holds an EdD in education from Vanderbilt University; a Master’s Degree from Murray State University; a Bachelor’s Degree from Bethel College in McKenzie, TN; and an Associate’s Degree from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN; as well as having completed additional graduate work at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Martin, TN. He began his career in education as a science teacher at Huntingdon High School (TN) in 1968.
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.
In November 2007, Vick was one of four finalists from a field of 50 considered for the position of Kentucky Commissioner of Education. Vick and his wife Janice, an elementary teacher, have two adult children, Dr. Valerie Vick-Wood of Mobile, AL, and Burton Vick of Paris, TN.
Considered a steppingstone to AASA’s national award, the Kentucky Superintendent of the Year award 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 receive a $2,000 scholarship from Scientific Learning, creators of the award-winning Fast ForWord educational products, for a student in his district. A slogan at Scientific Learning is “Greatness can be achieved,” said area representative Dave Conway, “and that is why we want to partner with KASA in recognizing Superintendent Vick’s accomplishments toward moving student learning forward.”
The Kentucky Association of School Administrators is the largest school administrators group in Kentucky, representing more than 3,000 education leaders from across the commonwealth. Formed in 1969, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators connects education leaders to policy makers, legislators, and other interest groups, and provides numerous benefits and services to Kentucky’s school administrators.
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