Jones Institute for Educational Excellence

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2011
CONTACTS: Terri Weast, tweast@emporia.edu, 1-877-378-5433, 620-341-5372

Longtime Kansas Educator Retires

After 47 years in education, Dr. Larry Clark, Executive Director of the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at Emporia State University, is retiring.

For the past eight years he has been the head of JIEE, serving two years before that as the operations manager there. Before coming to Emporia State University, Clark was the superintendent at Burlington USD 244 from 1984-2000.

A 1963 graduate of Kansas State University, Clark began his career in Hastings, NE and worked there for three years before progressing through four KS school districts including Emporia (1966-69), Olathe (1969-73), Kingman (1973-76), and Junction City (1976-1984). Throughout that time he worked as a teacher, supervisor, secondary principal, and district level administrator at the elementary, middle school, high school and district levels.

Upon completing his doctorate in 1984, Clark became superintendent of Burlington USD 244.

“Larry Clark will be greatly missed in the educational community,” said Toni Bowling, a colleague who has worked with Clark for nearly 30 years. “As superintendent at Burlington USD 244, every decision he made was based on what was best for kids.”

“I have been blessed with great experiences in every job I have held,” Clark said. “My lasting hope is that I have made a little bit of difference along the way. I have ready enjoyed my experience in higher education.  I plan to spent time farming and doing all the things retired people do.”

An announcement about the hiring of a new leader for the JIEE is expected within the next few weeks.

JIEE is a non-profit organization partially funded by the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Trust of Lyon County, Kansas. Additional funding and services are made possible through sales, grants, contracts, and the State of Kansas.

Since its inception in 1982, JIEE has been an educational resource to The Teachers College. The institute provides leadership to the profession through encouraging pre-college students to consider teaching as a career, provides access to educational experts through pre-service and in-service activities, and supports on-going mentoring and career development for those who have entered the profession.