WEST PLAINS, Mo. – West Plains resident and R-7 School Superintendent Dr. John Mulford will receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award during Missouri State University Alumni Association’s annual spring picnic for alumni and friends at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the West Plains Civic Center exhibit hall.
The award recognizes a Missouri State University alumnus who has made extraordinary achievements in his or her personal and professional endeavors and has shown notable success in his/her profession or business, loyalty to the university and outstanding contributions to society.
“There are so many good things to say about Dr. Mulford that it was no surprise he was selected to received the Distinguished Alumni Award,” said Joe Kammerer, director of the Missouri State-West Plains development office. “During his tenure at West Plains R-7, he has championed new initiatives to advance student, as well as family, success. One example is to provide ESL (English Second Language) classes to parents in an effort to improve their ability to assist their children in their educational endeavors. We are proud of our alumnus and the leadership he is demonstrating to the faculty, staff and students of West Plains R-7 Schools.”
A 1994 graduate of West Plains High School, Mulford received his Associate of Arts in General Studies degree from Missouri State-West Plains in 1997; his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from Missouri State University-Springfield in 2002; his Master’s in Education, Secondary Administration from William Woods University in 2005; his Specialist’s in Administration and Educational Leadership from St. Louis University in 2008; and his Doctorate in Administration and Educational Leadership from St. Louis University in 2009.
Mulford began his career as an administrator and teacher at Heritage Christian School in West Plains. After four years with the school, he was hired as a mathematics teacher at West Plains Middle School, a position he held for one year until he was moved to West Plains High School to teach math, a position he held for three years. He also has served as assistant principal at West Plains Middle School for two years, as West Plains High School principal for one year, and as West Plains R-7 assistant superintendent for four years before being named West Plains R-7 superintendent two years ago. In addition he spent nine years as a coach for the baseball, football and track teams and sponsored numerous student organizations.
In his administrative roles, he helped manage a middle school with 550 students while, in conjunction with the principal, implementing initiatives that improved curriculum, instruction, administration, school climate and academic achievement. As high school principal, he served as the instructional leader for a student population of approximately 1,200 while fostering a professional environment of collaboration that was student centered. As assistant superintendent, he managed the transportation, food service, buildings and grounds, and human resources for the largest school district in the seven-county south-central Missouri area. As superintendent, he serves as the educational leader and chief executive officer of a district with an estimated 2,600 students, 450 employees and 13 campuses. Among his responsibilities are board and community relations, fiscal oversight of the district, human resource management, and development and implementation of district policies.
Recently, Mulford developed a personalized English learning experience for ESL parents to improve their ability to help their children in their educational endeavors, and he has developed a partnership between the district and MyON reading, the world’s largest interactive digital library, to bring access to over 8,000 additional books geared toward pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to the school system. His goal is to expand a framework that will make the digital library available to all community members in an effort to increase early and adult literacy.
In addition to his day-to-day duties as R-7 superintendent, Mulford also actively serves and participates in several educational organizations, including the Ozark Educational Research Initiative, District Administration Leadership Institute, Missouri Association of School Administrators, Missouri Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Missouri School Boards Association. He also is a graduate of the national SUPES Academy for educational leaders in Dallas, Texas.
Mulford’s leadership and efforts to better the educational processes at West Plains R-7 has earned him the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Distinction in Performance Award each year during his administrative tenure. In addition, while serving as West Plains High School principal, the school was recognized as one of the Best High Schools in America by US News & World Report and one of the Best Schools in Southwest Missouri by 417 Magazine.
Mulford is active in the West Plains community, as well. He is a member of the West Plains Rotary Club; a board member of Optimists International; a founding board member of the Boys & Girls Club of West Plains; a coach for local T-ball, Mighty Mite football, and pee-wee basketball teams; an Ambassador with the West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce; a Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Mentor; and a deacon at Central Calvary Baptist Church.
“Research shows the importance of partnership between schools, parents and the community to promote the health, well-being and learning of all students. As seen in John’s history, he has been a consistent ‘bridge’ between fostering the relationship between Missouri State University-West Plains, West Plains Public Schools and the stakeholders of our community. Not only does he serve as a deacon at his church, he also makes time to serve on the philanthropic organizations in our community and was instrumental in the founding of our local Boys & Girls Club of West Plains,” his nominator for the award pointed out.
“Dr. Mulford has gained national notoriety through his experience in the 2013 SUPES Academy, yet he returned to his roots where he speaks highly of his alma mater and extends loyalty by building relationships with other alumni in support of Missouri State University-West Plains. He is a powerful alumni voice on behalf of the university and advocates for Missouri State University’s vision and instructional goals.”
Mulford and his wife, Heather, a Missouri State-West Plains alumna, are parents to son John David, Jr., and daughter Morgan.
The annual picnic is free and open to all Missouri State University alumni and friends; however, reservations should be made prior to the event, organizers said. For more information or to make reservations, call the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240.