The College of Education (COE) gathered on campus on April 4 to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the college and its members.  

Its inaugural Scholarship Banquet recognized scholarship winners, donors and faculty support.  

Fifty-three guests attended the banquet. Among them were Missouri State University President Clif Smart and his wife, Gail, Provost Dr. John Jasinski, Vice President for University Advancement Brent Dunn and Board of Governors student representative Bradley Cooper. 

During the event, COE Dean Dr. Barri Tinkler presented the college’s first Outstanding Alumni award to longtime educator Dr. Michael Fulton.  

Fulton’s impact on education 

Fulton received the award for his impact on schools in Missouri.  

Fulton attended Springfield Public Schools and graduated in 1982 from (then) Southwest Missouri State University with his bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Fulton also has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Illinois State University and a doctorate in education from St. Louis University.  

He taught in both the Bloomington Public Schools District (Illinois) and Clayton School District (Missouri). He then served as an administrator in the Pattonville School District (Missouri) for 23 years, working as superintendent for the last 11 years. 

During his tenure, the school system gained recognition at state and national levels for academic achievement. For his leadership, Fulton was named Missouri Superintendent of the Year in 2016. 

In 2018, he took on the superintendent role at the Shawnee Mission School District (Kansas), where he served for three years until his retirement. 

But Fulton never stopped working toward a better future for education. After retiring, he led a statewide effort to create a network supporting Missouri public schools in using a competency-based mindset to personalize learning, ensuring every student is prepared for high school, college, career and the workplace. 

Along with a team of collaborators that included the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Fulton created the statewide Success-Ready Students Network (SSRN).  

The network now comprises 95 school districts and 25 educational agencies and universities. 

Tinkler acknowledged Fulton as a worthy recipient of the college’s first Outstanding Alumni award and the bright future of the SSRN. 

“Dr. Fulton has started a movement in K-12 education in the state. I believe this work will continue to grow and it’ll have a significant impact,” Tinkler said. 

For more information or to support SSRN in its goals, visit its website. 

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