Susan J. Simpson

Superintendent
White Settlement Independent School District
Fort Worth, Texas
Ph.D. in Educational Administration
Texas A&M University

Susan J. Simpson, a 4th generation educator from Texas, has been a teacher, coach, principal, college professor and administrator in Texas schools for over twenty-five years. For sixteen of these years she has led four different school districts as the superintendent , beginning with her first job as superintendent at the age of thirty-one. Dr. Simpson is presently superintendent of the White Settlement Independent School District, serving in this position for the past six years.

Having recently been named Texas Superintendent of the Year from among over 1100 superintendents across the state of Texas, Dr. Simpson attributes much of her success to understanding the importance of relationships. She often cites her own first grade teacher, Mary Lee Braswell, as one of those key individuals who taught her the importance of making people feel special. It was from an early age that Mrs. Braswell instilled the confidence in Dr. Simpson that she should take the risks to be all that she desired to be. It is this philosophy that has encouraged Dr. Simpson to nominate Flip Flippen for the Brock Award.

Dr. Simpson has received several honors including: keynoting several conferences including Texas Council of Women School Executives, recognition as a recipient of the Honorary Lifetime Parent Teacher Association Award, presenter for multiple conferences such as Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of Schools Boards Midwinter Conference, and publisher of several journal articles.

Dr. Simpson graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas in 1980, with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Physical Education. In 1987, she earned a Master of Education from East Texas State University in Commerce, in Educational Administration, and in Psychology. Most recently, Dr. Simpson graduated from Texas A&M University, in College Station with a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration.

Dr. Simpson is the mother of three children. Erin, her twenty year old daughter is a junior attending Texas A&M University and her eighteen year old daughter, Laci, will be attending Blinn/Texas A&M University this fall. Dr. Simpson's son, Seth is fifteen and will be a sophomore at Brewer High School in White Settlement Independent School District.

Lucy F. Smith

Superintendent
McAlester Public Schools
McAlester, Oklahoma
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology
The University of Oklahoma

Dr. Lucy Smith has served in her present position as the Superintendent for McAlester Public Schools since 1985. She began her career as a classroom teacher from 1963-1978, served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma from 1976-1977, and returned to McAlester where she became a public school administrator, serving as Director of Guidance from 1978-1981, and Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction from 1982-1985. She has been in the education profession for 45 years, 40 of which have been in Oklahoma.

Dr. Smith is a graduate of McAlester High School and received her B.A. in Music (summa cum laude) from Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas. She continued her education and received her M.T. in Elementary Education from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, and her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Smith has been a member of the Oklahoma State Superintendent's Advisory Council from 1986 to present; served as president of the Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission; Board of Directors, Oklahoma Association of School Administrators; Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence; and Board of Directors, Educators Leadership Academy. She is also a member of the American Association of School Administrators, Oklahoma Association of School Business Officials, United Suburban School Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Dr. Smith has been honored with numerous awards throughout her career. The most recent include Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame, 2006; Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2006; University of Oklahoma College of Education, Career Achievement Award and Seventy Five Who Made A Difference, 2005; and Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, Administrator of the Year, 2005.