College of Education recognizes state school board association leader
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
MANHATTAN -- The College of Education at Kansas State University is recognizing the top administrator of the Kansas Association of School Boards with one of its most prestigious awards.
John Heim, executive director of the association, is the recipient of the 2013 Dan and Cheryl Yunk Award from the college. Named for the Yunks, who were both exemplary teachers and administrators throughout their careers in the Manhattan-Ogden school system, the award recognizes the importance of educational administrators in establishing environments that promote student learning.
Heim has served as executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards since 2010. From 1997-2010, he was the superintendent in Emporia. He has maintained strong ties to the community by serving as an adjunct faculty member at Emporia State University's Teachers College.
He also served as executive director of the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas, or ESSDAC, and as superintendent of the El Dorado and Leoti school districts. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he was principal at Ell-Saline Junior High and assistant principal of South Junior High in Lawrence.
Throughout his career, Heim has held numerous leadership positions. They include president of the Kansas Association of School Administrators; board of directors member and Legislative Committee chair of the United School Administrators of Kansas; and member of the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning Superintendents Forum.
In 2009, Heim was named the Kansas Association of School Administrators Superintendent of the Year. Other honors include the United School Administrators of Kansas Outstanding Service Award and the Kansas School Public Relations Association's Communicator of the Year award.
Heim earned a doctorate in educational administration from Kansas State University, a master's degree in educational administration from Fort Hays State University, and a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Kansas.
