Five of state's best vie for Superintendent of Year

Dr. Sandra Mossman is retiring this year from the Clear Creek ISD, after becoming the district's first female superintendent and the first to work her way up through the ranks to superintendent. She previously served the district as both an intermediate school and high school principal. Mossman holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University, a master's from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. from Baylor University. She was named 1994 Administrator of the Year for large school districts by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and was named a Distinguished Alumnae of the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2003.

Dr. Joseph Burns has 14 years of experience in school administration, the last five as superintendent of the Kirbyville CISD, which has a student population of approximately 1,500. He has worked closely with the school board to complete campus construction as a result of a bond issue passed before he became superintendent and has worked with campus principals to develop a uniform and progressive curriculum alignment. Burns holds his bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. Donald Stockton has spent the last 21 years in the 44,000-student Conroe ISD, the last four years as superintendent. Some of his previous positions in CISD include interim superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, teacher and coach. He was principal of The Woodlands High School and McCullough and Knox junior high schools and assistant principal at McCullough, Knox Junior High and Oak Ridge High schools. He also previously taught math and physical education at Conroe High School and at Travis Junior High. He was also a teacher Lafayette, Indiana. Stockton earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Purdue University and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He is a veteran educator of 23 years, 16 of which were spent in administration.

Tom Bailey has been superintendent of the Olney ISD, with a student population of 740, for the last three years. He came to Olney from the Clyde ISD, where he served as principal and then assistant superintendent. Bailey has nine years of administrative experience and is president-elect of Region Nine TASA Study Group and is a TASA mentor superintendent. He was also named school family Citizen of the Year by the local chamber of commerce. Bailey holds a bachelor's degree from McMurry University and a master's from Abilene Christian University. He has done post-graduate work at the University of North Texas.

Dr. Richard Middleton is a veteran superintendent of 17 years at the helm of San Antonio's North East ISD. He has more than three decades of administrative experience. He began his education career as a history and government teacher at North East's Roosevelt High in 1972 and has moved up the administrative ranks in education at schools in Houston and San Antonio. In a district that serves almost 61,000 students, Middleton is known for his proactive approach to changes in the district. He holds a bachelor's degree from Trinity University, a master's from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

This year's Superintendent of the Year finalists were chosen based on their dedication to improving educational quality, school board-superintendent relations and student achievement, and their commitment to public support and involvement in local education.

Other regional winners in addition to the five finalists include: Richard Rivera, Weslaco ISD; Wayne Johnson, Aransas County ISD; Joddie W. Witte, Van ISD; Robert L. Stinnett, Maud ISD; Russell D. Marshall, Mabank ISD; Darrell G. Floyd, Stephenville ISD; Pat Forgione, Jr., Austin ISD; Rick Howard, Comanche ISD; David L. Hutton, Sr., Menard ISD; Rodney W. Sumner, Spearman ISD; Gary E. Lehnen, Ropes ISD; and Paul Vranish, Tornillo ISD.