PRESS RELEASE
Wright Elected Vice President of Missouri School Board Association
Columbia, Mo -- Dave Wright of Blue Springs was recently elected Vice President of the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA), an organization representing the interests of public education and school districts throughout the state. Elections were held during MSBA's Leadership Summit at Branson on June 6, 2008. Prior to his election to the statewide office of Vice President, Wright represented school districts from Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties on the MSBA State Board of Directors and also served as the Leadership Chair for Region 4. As MSBA Vice President, Wright will assume a significant leadership role in the statewide association, represent the association and travel extensively throughout the state, and lobby for education and children’s issues in Jefferson City and Washington D.C.
The MSBA supports public education and the success of local school boards across Missouri through leadership, training, and advocacy; and it also assists school districts in keeping more money in the local classroom. MSBA provides policy services and offers counsel on proper procedure to allow board members to focus their energies on the future of their schools. MSBA ensures that the voices of Missouri local school districts and school boards are heard in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. as legislation affecting schools is being considered. MSBA regularly offers testimony, provides one-on-one insight to legislators on school issues, and advises districts on how they can positively influence the process.
Wright said he was very excited about assuming his new role as MSBA Vice President. "Public schools and public education shape the future of our communities, our state, and our nation," he said, "and being able to take a role to further advocate for the needs of children and the critical role of local school boards and school districts in the education process is exciting to me." Wright went on to say, "School districts across Missouri face many challenges, both internally and externally, and leadership at the state level is critical for local success."
Wright believes that his diverse background from growing up on a farm near Appleton City in west central Missouri and attending school there compared to his more recent experience with suburban and urban schools in the Kansas City metro where he serves on the Blue Springs School Board will serve him well in his new position. Wright explained, “Many differences exist between schools in Missouri, often based on the size and demographics of your local school; but the role of MSBA is to bridge those differences and bring about positive change for every Missouri school district.” He went on to say, “We have to look for common goals that can make a real difference in the lives of children and collaborate our efforts to be successful.” Wright said he looked forward to utilizing his prior experience as a leader in statewide organizations and in lobbying for issues to help grow and enhance the effectiveness of the association.
Wright is serving his 8th year on the Blue Springs R-IV Board of Education and is active in numerous service, civic, and governmental groups in Blue Springs, Eastern Jackson County, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. He currently serves as School Board Treasurer and has previously served as both Vice President and President. During the year when he served as Board President, the entire Board was recognized as "Outstanding School Board of Missouri" and the school district was named the "Outstanding Place to Work" in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Wright began his work with the school district as a parent volunteer and is a past PTA President. Wright organized the Blue Springs Education Foundation and currently serves as its Co-Chair. He is President of the Jackson County 4-H Foundation Board, Chair of the Blue Springs "Renew the Blue" Vision Implementation Committee, President and Co-Founder of Stand Up Blue Springs, and serves on several other community and foundation boards. He is a past president of the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT) Board of Directors and a strong supporter of agricultural science programs and both the FFA and 4-H youth organizations.
Wright holds a bachelors degree in agriculture from University of Missouri-Columbia and a masters degree in education from the University of Central Missouri. He has been a manager for nearly 25 years with the USDA's Risk Management Agency that administers the federal crop insurance program and currently holds the position of Chief of Financial Operations. He has one daughter, Lauren, who will be a Junior at Blue Springs this fall.
CONTACTS: Leslie Evans 816.224.1300
Dave Wright 816.519.8620