McAlester's school superintendent Dr Lucy Smith named Oklahoma Administrator of the Year

Monday, August 23rd 2004, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Dr. Lucy Smith, superintendent of McAlester Public Schools, has been named the 2004 Oklahoma Administrator of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators.

She will be recognized by her colleagues Sunday in Oklahoma City during a conference of about 2,000 school administrators, educators and school board members.

``I have been blessed to spend my working life in the noblest profession of all, education,'' she said. ``My greatest joy through the years has been to watch our young people develop into productive, educated citizens with fulfilling lives ahead of them. It is deeply gratifying when your colleagues choose to honor you in this way, but I really wonder if I should receive an award for doing what I love to do.''

Dr. Randall Raburn, executive director of OASA, called Smith ``an excellent role model for superintendents and principals across the state. Dr. Smith is truly dedicated to her profession and a visionary leader in promoting quality education for students.''

Smith, who has been superintendent of McAlester Public Schools since 1985, has spent the majority of her career in the McAlester School District. She began her educational career as an elementary and secondary music teacher in 1964 in McAlester. She has 39 years of experience in education.