2005 Outstanding Rural District Administrator
Jerry Parret
No job is too big or too small for Jerry Parrett. Mr. Parrett is currently the Superintendent of the Kirbyville R-VI School District at Kirbyville, Missouri. His administrative commitment to students and education began in 1973 as the K-6 Principal in the Everton R-III School Districts. Prior to accepting the Superintendent's position at Kirbyville in 1999, he served in administrative capacities in the Bucklin, Galena, and Skyline school districts. A strong advocate for the rural Missouri students, Mr. Parrett was described by one of his students as my "Hero of Character" because he devotes every waking moment to school kids and to finding ways to make their lives better.
In analyzing his six years of dedicated service to the residents of the Kirbyville School District, there are several descriptive words that immediately come to mind, but the one that stands out the most is "Jack of all Trades." As a responsible steward of the district's finances, he has searched for entitlements, written grants, and has sought community assistance to ensure that the best resources are available to enhance the teaching and learning process. In addition to managing the school district finances, he has been known to paint classrooms, unload heavy furniture, scrub floors, shovel sidewalks, install playground equipment, cut grass, serve as custodian, bus driver, lunch lady, football coach and has even been known to wear a hula skirt........ all in a day's work for a rural superintendent.
During Mr. Parrett's tenure at Kirbyville, he has assembled a quality team of administrators, teachers, and staff in directing the major focus of the school district as captured in three words from the mission statement, "Progressive, Quality Education." Through the leadership of Mr. Parrett, much improvement has been made to the Kirbyville Schools, such as building projects, improving instructional programs, making technology a high priority and raising expectations for all. His plans ensure the students at Kirbyville School are going to be well educated not only today but in the future as well.
Lewis Carroll, an English author, once said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." Jerry Parrett knows where he is going. He has a vision of what he wants the Kirbyville School District to be. As his adminstrative team puts it, "He models a work ethic, which inspires the faculty, staff, and students to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
The Kirbyville School District, community, staff, and especially students have benefited from Mr. Parrett's leadership. Jerry Parrett is truly a "Hero of Character" exhibiting the qualities as the Missouri Outstanding Rural District Administrator for 2005.