Superintendent, McAlester Public Schools, McAlester, Oklahoma, Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, The University of Oklahoma
Nominee: Mel Levine
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.
