Message From the CEO
Melissa Randol
Chief Executive Officer
Thank you for visiting the FutureBuilders website. As the non-profit education foundation of the Missouri School Boards’ Association it is our goal to celebrate the successes of our public schools and to recognize the achievements of both students and school leaders.
We believe that public education is the foundation of our democracy and that it is imperative that we counter the negative stereotyping of public schools.
MSBA FutureBuilders’ mission is to spread the news about the good things going on day in and day out in Missouri’s public schools. Our unofficial motto is “Research, not rhetoric” and we use that as our model as we help tell the true story of the successes of our public schools.
Contact
Administration
Colleen Mahon – Executive Administrative Specialist
573-445-9920, ext. 340
mahon@mosba.org
MSBA FutureBuilders Foundation Activities
Legacy of Leadership Awards
The Legacy of Leadership Awards are designed to honor current and former Missouri school board members who have distinguished themselves through community service and advocacy for public education. Honorees are outstanding Missourians who have given countless hours for the betterment of their communities and to advocate for the students in our public schools. These awards are sponsored by FutureBuilders, the non-profit foundation of the Missouri School Boards’ Association.
The Carter Ward Excellence in Advocacy Award
The Carter D. Ward Excellence in Advocacy Award is designed to recognize and honor an individual board member who exhibits exemplary leadership skills in the area of public education advocacy. Nominees should possess a documented history of achievement in local, statewide or national advocacy on behalf of Missouri’s public school students.
The award is named for former Missouri School Boards’ Association Executive Director Dr. Carter D. Ward, whose career epitomized successful advocacy for public education in Missouri. The nomination period for the 2023 Carter D. Ward Excellence in Advocacy Award is from July 25, 2022 through September 16, 2022.
Access the 2023 Award Application
Past Winners of the Carter D. Ward Advocacy Award
2022 – Larry Felton, Mehlville School District
2021 – Mike Pratte, Gasconade R-I
2019 – Ruth Johnson, Raymore-Peculiar R-II
2018 – Ann Franklin, Independence
The Paul Morris Community Service Award
The Paul Morris Community Service Award was established to recognize and honor an individual school board member from Missouri, past or present, who has shown a sincere and outstanding commitment to community service. The award is named in honor of Paul Morris, a past president of MSBA, who devoted countless hours to strengthening his community and improving its schools through his volunteer work. An individual award winner will be selected from nominations received by the FutureBuilders’ Board of Directors to be honored at the MSBA Annual Conference held each fall. The nomination period for the 2022 Paul Morris Community Service Award is now closed.
Past Winners of the Paul Morris Award
2021 – Betty Braden, Sparta R-III
2020 – Lisa Vanderburg, Moberly
2019 – Vic Lenz, Missouri State Board of Education
2018 – Terry Ward, North Kansas City 74
2017 – Lisa Knutzen, Carl Junction
2016 – Gerry Lee, Springfield Public Schools
2015 – Jill Esry, Independence
2014 – Dave Green, Malden R-I
2013 – Robin Krause, Knob Noster R-VIII
2012 – Roseann Bentley, Springfield R-XII
2011 – Ann Gibbons, Hazelwood
2010 – Roy Burnside, Festus R-VI
2009 – John Holcomb, Trenton R-IX
Early Childhood Education Program of the Year Award
The Early Childhood Education Program of the Year Awards recognize outstanding Pre-K programs throughout Missouri. Applications for the 2022 campaign will be accepted from February 7, 2022 through April 4, 2022.
The FutureBuilders’ Foundation celebrates the many impressive achievements made when providing quality early childhood instruction, regardless of district size. Winning programs are selected in each of three size categories as determined by a district’s overall student population. Those winners are then invited to attend MSBA’s Fall Annual Conference for celebration and recognition.
Note: If your district has won an ECE award in the last three years, we ask you to defer from reapplying to increase opportunities for acknowledgement to additional exemplary ECE programs around Missouri. (For the 2022 award campaign, do not apply if your program won an ECE Award in 2019, 2020, or 2021- Thank you.)
The ECE Program of the Year application period has closed for 2022.
FutureBuilders Early Childhood Education Program of the Year Previous Winners
2022: Small – Crystal City 47; Midsize – Maplewood Richmond Heights; Large – North Kansas City 74
2021: Small – Spokane R-VII; Midsize – Dunklin R-V; Large – Columbia Public Schools
2020: Small – Northeast Nodaway Count R-V; Midsize – El Dorado Springs R-II; Large – Riverview Gardens
2019: Small – Grandview RII, Jefferson C 123; Midsize – Dunklin R-V; Large – Branson R-IV
2018: Small – Everton R-II; Midsize – Orchard Farm R-V; Large – Mehlville R-IX
2017: Small – Van Buren R-I; Midsize – Farmington R-VII; Large – Independence 30
2016: 1st – Springfield Public Schools; 2nd – Mehlville R-IX; 3rd – Raytown C-2
2015: 1st – Northwest R-I; 2nd – Jefferson City Public Schools; 3rd – Ozark R-VI
2014: 1st – Belton 124; 2nd – Mehlville R-IX; 3rd – Ava R-I
2013: 1st – Nixa Public Schools; 2nd – Jefferson City Public Schools; 3rd – Kirksville R- III
2012: 1st – Pattonville R-III; 2nd – Nixa Public Schools; 3rd – Park Hill
2011: 1st – Francis Howell R-III; 2nd – Lee’s Summit R-VIII; 3rd – Belton 124
2010: 1st – Webster Groves; 2nd – Maplewood-Richmond Heights; 3rd – Nixa Public Schools
Proceeds from the participation and generosity of players and sponsors help fund the MSBA’s FutureBuilders Foundation. FutureBuilders provides 18 annual John T. Belcher Memorial Scholarships which are awarded to high school seniors from all areas of Missouri, helping our future leaders achieve their dream of a college education. FutureBuilders also supports and promotes the importance of community leadership, education advocacy and early childhood education.
For more information about the golf tournament, contact Todd Smith 573-445-9920 ext. 310, smith@mosba.org.
John T. Belcher Scholarship Award
MSBA FutureBuilders established the scholarship program in memory of John T. Belcher, who was instrumental in developing innovative financing programs for Missouri school districts. The learning environment for thousands of Missouri’s public school students improved as a result of his work.
A $1000 annual scholarship is awarded to a student in each of MSBA’s 17 regions. Applicants are judged on the basis of academic performance, extracurricular activities and the quality of an essay. A statewide winner is selected from this group of regional winners and awarded an additional $1500.
How can a student apply for a Belcher scholarship?
The school board of each MSBA member district is eligible to nominate one high school senior to apply. The local board of education should select their applicant based on academic achievement and leadership abilities; need may also be considered. After the district applicant is chosen the student/guidance office should contact Janet Tilley for a link to the online application during the application period, generally from October through January. The applicant and their guidance counselor will receive confirmation and further instructions within two working days of submission. The student will need to obtain a transcript and complete the essay, if not already done.
2022 Essay Prompt:
School districts throughout Missouri and the nation are facing a shortage of teachers. In your essay, identify and explain how best to recruit students to pursue a teaching career. Reflect upon those teachers whom you consider to be excellent teachers. What skills are needed to be a high-quality teacher? Please provide examples of how high-quality teaching inspired you to succeed as a student.
Contact:
Janet Tilley
573.445.9920 ext. 379
tilley@mosba.org
Join MSBA FutureBuilders Foundation Virtual 5K Fun Run
Walk or run your 5K distance anytime between January 21 and April 1, 2021.
Share your selfie, wearing your Fun Run T-shirt to the Fun Run Facebook group and/or your instagram account with #MSBAFunRun.
Forrest T. Jones & Company | epic.insure | Stifel | LJ Hart & Company | The UPS Store, Springfield, MO
2022 John Belcher Scholarship Essay Prompt:
Please write and title a 500-700 word essay on the following theme:
School districts throughout Missouri and the nation are facing a shortage of teachers. In your essay, identify and explain how best to recruit students to pursue a teaching career. Reflect upon those teachers whom you consider to be excellent teachers. What skills are needed to be a high-quality teacher? Please provide examples of how high-quality teaching inspired you to succeed as a student.
Emerson Cochran
Carthage School District
Region 9
One struggle that I personally have faced these past few years is choosing a career path. This is often a self-initiated pursuit; however, I think it would be beneficial to everyone if our school offered more career exploration opportunities.
Read the 2022 District-winning Essays
Region 1 – Stephanie Turpin – Jefferson C-123
Region 2 – Alexandra Sharp – Brookfield R-III
Region 3 – Tim Wellman – Palmyra R-I
Region 4 – Regan Dunn – Smithville R-II
Region 5 – Charles Grumky – Lafayette Co C-1
Region 6 – Annamarie Stone – Centralia R-VI — Statewide Winner
Region 7 – Anna Haas – Northwest R-I
Region 8 – Sarah Hillburgh – Waynesville R-VI
Region 9 – Kaytlyn Cook – East Newton Co R-VI
Region 10 – Anna Morrow – Springfield R-XII
Region 11 – Jace Reese – Alton R-IV
Region 12 – Lauren Prigge – Maries Co R-II
Region 13 – Keturah Pyland – Perry Co 32
Region 14 – Olivia Slaughter – Malden R-I
Region 15 – Hallee Donley – Gainesville R-V
Region 16 – Katelynn Tourtillott – Rich Hill R-IV
Region 17 – Keith Ransom – Mexico 59
Madison Straatmann
Washington School District
Region 12
Learning and gaining knowledge is such an exciting thing, a blessing that we are fortunate to have…students must feel like the classes that require hours of homework and late night study sessions are worth the time and effort.