Dr. Keith Ballard

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

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Educational Background | Professional Experience
Professional Organizations | Professional Positions
Presentations | Publications | Community Involvement
Honors | Accomplishments

Keith Ballard, Ph.D., is a professor with the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Dr. Ballard maintains an office at OU-Tulsa  as part of the College of Education’s growing programs on that campus. He currently serves as executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association and is a former school superintendent and principal, bringing years of experience as a practitioner to his position with the College.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• Doctorate in Educational Administration, 1992
  Oklahoma State University
  
• Administrative Certification, 1977
  Tulsa University
• Master of Education, 1974
  Northwestern Oklahoma State University
  Major: Reading Specialist
• Bachelor of Arts, 1971
  Fort Hays Kansas State University
  Major: Psychology and Speech
• High School, 1967
  Kiowa Kansas High School

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2000 to Present
  Executive Director, Oklahoma State School Boards Association
• 2002 to Present
  Adjunct Professor, University of Oklahoma
• 1998 to Present
  Adjunct Professor, Southern Nazarene University
• 1992 to 2000
  Superintendent, Claremore Public Schools
• 1994 to 2000
  Adjunct Professor, Oral Roberts University
• 1986 to 1992
  Superintendent, Oologah Public Schools
• 1983 to 1986
  Assistant Superintendent, Oologah Public Schools
• 1980 to 1983
  Administrative Assistant, Oologah Public Schools
• 1977 to 1980
  Assistant High School Principal, Oologah Public Schools
• 1974 to 1977
  Teacher, Oologah Public Schools
• 1972 to 1974
  Teacher, Coweta Public Schools

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Cooperative Council of School Administrators
• American Association of School Administrators
• Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission
• Association of School Business Officials
• United Suburban Schools Association
• Oklahoma Commission for Educational Leadership
• Oklahoma Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

• National School Boards Association Liaison Committee representing Executive Directors on the NSBA Board of Directors, 2002-2004
• National School Boards Association In-Service Committee for Executive Directors, 2001-2002
• Founding Member, Oklahoma Education Coalition (OEC)
  • OEC Chairperson-Elect, 2000 - 2001
  • OEC Chairperson, 2001-2002
• Member, Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust, 2000-Present
• Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust, 2002-2004
• Member, United Suburban Schools Association Executive Committee, 1996-1999
• President, United Suburban Schools Association, 1996-1997
• President, Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, 1997-1998
• President-Elect, Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, 1996-1997
• Vice President, Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, 1995-1996
• County Coordinator for Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, 1989-1995
• Member, Representative Tom Coburn’s Education Advisory Committee, 1994-2000
• Member, State Superintendent’s Advisory Council, 1991-Present
• Member, Executive Committee, Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission, 1985-Present
• President, Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission, 1989-90 & 1993-94
• Member, Oklahoma State Professional Standards Board, 1988-1992
• Chairman, Board of Trustees, Health Protection Pool for Oklahoma Schools 1986-1991
• Member, Oklahoma State North Central Association/Commission on Schools 1987-1990
• Member of Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Insurance Association 1984-1988

PRESENTATIONS, SPEECHES & OTHER EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENTS

Prior to becoming Executive Director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, I made numerous presentations and speeches to various groups and organizations and have served on several panel discussions. The following are some of the groups I have made presentations to:

• Oklahoma New Superintendents – Topics included communications, negotiations, disaster preparation and recovery, and ethics for superintendents.
• State Administrators Organization (OASA), I taught Aspiring Superintendent’s workshops covering all aspects of the school superintendency.
• State Vocational Department of Oklahoma State University, I taught several workshops on disaster preparation and recovery, bond issues, and leadership.
• Oklahoma State School Boards Association, I made presentations to school board members on several subjects including School Board Policy, The Open Meeting Act, and Roles and Responsibilities of Superintendents and Board Members.
• Keynote speaker for the 1994 Claremore Area United Way Kick-Off Luncheon.
• Keynote speaker for the jointly sponsored 1994 Oklahoma School Plant Management Association and Oklahoma State Department of Education convention Annual Conference.
• Keynote speaker for the 1996 Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges.
• Keynote speaker for the 1998 Annual Banquet for Northeastern State University Administrators Alumni Organization.
• Addressed the opening session at the Oklahoma Education Association Legislative Conference, July 1998.

Since becoming Executive Director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, I have made numerous presentations and appeared on several panels. Overall, I probably average at least one per week. Some examples are:

• Presented on Career Technology Curriculum to administrators and school board members, November 2001.
• Addressed PTA Conference on legislative and educational issues, November 2001, 2002, 2003.
• Bond Issue presentation for OSU Center for Business Education. Also present at least once per year on Leadership.
• Spoke at ORES Fall Conference on Critical Issues Facing Education, September 2001.
• Spoke recently to the Oklahoma new superintendents on administration ethics.
• Spoke to Oklahoma administrators on the relationship between board members and superintendents.
• Have conducted over 100 Whole Board Development session with individual boards.
• Appear on legislative panels for OASBO, and speak on legislative issues for various meetings across the state.
• Spoke at the 1998 and the 2000 and 2003 Oklahoma Education Coalition statewide rallies.
• Present yearly at the Oklahoma Schools Advisory Council Annual Conference.

In addition to the above-mentioned activities, I have also been active for several years with the Oklahoma State Legislature on education issues. I have met regularly with key legislative leaders, and other state leaders to help shape educational legislation and policy. I have also testified numerous times to various legislative committees.

I have served on several committees to study statewide educational issues. Some examples are: School Funding Formula, All-Day Kindergarten, Mid-term Adjustment, Hold-Harmless, Gifted, English as a Second Language, and several others.

I served on a ten member Superintendent’s Advisory Committee to Secretary of State Dr. Floyd Coppedge in 1998.

ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

• Monthly OSSBA Journal
• Weekly Executive Director’s Desktop
• Weekly newsletter while serving as superintendent in Oologah and Claremore
• Ballard, Keith, 2001, Teacher Supply Demand, Oklahoma Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Oklahoma City
• I have written several editorials which have appeared in various Newspapers

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Member, First United Methodist Church, and past Sunday School Teacher, Claremore, OK
• Member, Board of Directors, Claremore Regional Medical Center 1988-1992
• Member, Board of Directors, Claremore Public Schools Foundation, 1992-2000
• Member, Claremore Rotary Club, 1992-2000
• Coach, Oologah Little League Baseball Teams, Oologah Green Country Soccer
• Association Teams, Oologah Elementary Basketball
• Coach, Claremore Optimist Basketball
• Member and Coach, Claremore Youth Baseball Association
• Member, Board of Directors, Claremore Area United Way
• Member Executive Board, Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce – Chairman of
• Education Committee, 1992-2000
• Member of Planning Commission Subcommittee, City of Claremore, 1998-2000

HONORS

• National School Board Association “Executive Educator 100”, 1988
• By receiving this honor I was named one of the top 100 administrators in North
• America with 10 years of administrative experience or less.
• Special Recognition by Oologah Area Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding
• Contribution to Community, 1988 & 1993.
• Named by Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, District Six as
• 1988-1989 Administrator of the Year.
• Who’s Who in American Education
• Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders 1993-1994 Edition.
• Strathmore’s Who’s Who Registry of Business Leaders.
• Who’s Who Among Top Executives

ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING SUPERINTENDENCY AT OOLOGAH

• Oologah School Foundation
• Parent Volunteer Program
• Staff Recognition Banquet and other Staff Recognition Programs
• Interact Sessions with Teachers and Support Organizations
• Community Newsletter
• Weekly Staff Bulletins
• Strengthened Teacher Evaluation Program
• Great Books Program which I personally led on a weekly basis
• Honors Classes at the High School
• Passed Two Bond Issues
• Board and Superintendent Evaluation Programs
• Participative Management
• Strategic Planning Programs
• Initiated $3 Million Building Program
• Computer curriculum and addition of computer hardware
• Led the school in a $10.5 million rebuilding project after the 1991 tornado

ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING SUPERINTENDENCY AT CLAREMORE

• Initiated long-range Building Improvement Plan
• Passed four bond issues totaling $15.1 Million which resulted in several building
• improvements
• Established Superintendent’s Advisory Council
• Established several staff committees and initiated participative management program
• Restructured grade grouping in the school
• Reorganized Central Office staff
• Established Technology Plan for school district
• Initiated curriculum reorganization
• Established formal budgeting process
• Established Communication Programs with School Board, Community & Staff
• Strengthened Teacher Evaluation Program
• Implemented Block Scheduling
• Established a school-community program where students go into the community for
• work and educational experiences
• Expanded nine week course offerings at the high school – I personally taught a nine week
• class on leadership
• Instituted Win-Win negotiations process
• Established a School Safety Program
• Established a Character Education Program
• Instituted Advance Placement Classes
• Instituted Teachers as Advisors Program
• One of four superintendents who started NewNet 66, a technology consortium.