USA|Kansas

Ralph Beacham, Associate Executive Director, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center – Greenbush (Interlocal 609) has been named the 2011 Outstanding Service Award recipient by United School Administrators of Kansas (USA|Kansas). Beacham was recognized by the association and colleagues on Thursday, January 27, 2011, during the USA|Kansas annual convention in Wichita.

Each year, USA|Kansas bestows upon one of its administrators the Outstanding Service Award – the highest honor the organization awards. This individual is nominated by the presidents of each of the 10 statewide member associations and is recognized for outstanding contributions to the profession and for exemplary leadership.

Beacham has served on the USA|Kansas Board of Directors, representing the Kansas Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators (KCCTEA). He has also served on the USA|Kansas legislative and professional development committees. Beacham frequently represents administrators with the Kansas State Department of Education and other statewide organizations. For many, Ralph’s name has become synonymous with career and technical education in Kansas.

In addition to being a long-standing member of USA|Kansas and KCCTEA, Beacham has served as president of the Kansas Association of Career and Technical Education (K-ACTE) and has served on the board for the National Association of the Career and Technical Education. He is a past recipient of the K-ACTE Career Achievement Award.

In 1999, Beacham joined the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (“Greenbush”). There, he has been responsible for overseeing programming with several Kansas Adult Correctional Facilities, coordinating Greenbush programs in locations across the state, and developing and overseeing secondary technical programs for consortium groups and school districts.

Before joining Greenbush, Beacham spent 12 years in St. Louis, Missouri as the court monitor of a legal case seeking to racially integrate area technical schools.

Beacham’s resumé illustrates an individual who is actively engaged in his community, as well. He has served in leadership positions within many church, civic, and charitable organizations. Beacham earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Pittsburg State University and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University.

“Without question, Ralph has truly embraced the word “service” and has demonstrated remarkable leadership during his career in education,” says Cheryl Semmel, executive director of USA|Kansas. “But more notably, Ralph is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. He has served Kansas well."

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The mission of USA|Kansas, through collaboration of member associations, is to serve, support and develop educational leaders and to establish USA|Kansas as a significant force to improve education. The USA|Kansas Board of Directors is comprised of K-12 public education administrators appointed by each member association.

The mission of the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center is to provide equal educational opportunities for everyone.