2002 Outstanding Rural District Administrator
W. Ray Shoaf
is currently the Superintendent of Scott County Central School District near Sikeston, MO. Mr. Shoaf is completing his twenty-second year as the superintendent. His professional career includes serving as a fifth grader instructor for one year, a seventh grade teacher/building administrator for 4 years, an elementary principal for seven years and finally the district superintendency for a total of thirty-four years.
Mr. Shoaf is described as one having the ability to relate effectively to students, faculty, parents and fellow administrators. He is one that accepts responsibility readily and carries out his duties with efficiency and dispatch. He is described by one member of the staff as having the ability to sense the needs and feelings of others while making others feel that they are a contributing part of the whole picture. During his tenure, Mr. Shoaf has been able to bring about positive community involvement in the school system, that had been absent before his positive approaches brought results. To him there are no "ifs" but "when". To him there are no MAJOR problems, just minor setbacks that can be solved easily if we set our minds to it.
During his twenty-two years as Superintendent of Scott County Central Schools, he has had many accomplishments. Three building projects have been completed. All buildings have been remodeled by replacing lighting, ceilings, floor tile, adding insulation, replacing all heating units and air conditioning all district buildings. One major accomplishment was the removal of all asbestos in the buildings while serving as the abatement contractor and supervising.
During his time as Superintendent, he has never had a tax rate increase, Proposition C Waiver, or bond issue defeated. This is some indication of the community support he has and his ability to communicate the needs of the district to the patrons.
During the last cycle of the Missouri School Improvement Review, Mr. Shoaf's leadership guided Scott County Central to receive the honor of Accreditation with Distinction in Improvement in Performance. This recognition is only one of many others that are the results of Mr. Shoaf's leadership in the field of education.
During his educational career, Mr. Shoaf has been involved in many professional organizations to name only a few, MARE, MASA, MSTA, and MoASBO. In addition, he is actively involved in his community. He is a part President of the Rotary Club, a member and music director of the Morley Baptist Church and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Morley Baptist Day Care Center. He had coached summer baseball teams at all levels and served as a Volunteer Fireman.
An attribute that Mr. Shoaf displays is his desire to know the students in the district by name. He always has a smile and a kind work never to busy to talk to a teacher to student.