MOASPA History

In the mid-1970s, Dr. Bob Reifschneider, Director of Educational Placement at the University of Missouri, Columbia, formed a group of school personnel directors and university placement officials around the State. A group of about 10 to 20 met annually at the Holiday Inn at Lake of the Ozarks to discuss common issues related to school personnel and teacher placement. By all accounts, meetings were informal and brief, and the primary benefit was socializing with other personnel and university directors across the state. It was an essential first step for the Association, and networking with others remains a critical component of MOASPA. Dr. Reifschneider, the group's founder, passed away in 2010.

In the mid-1980s, the group became more organized, and the statewide conference began to have a more specific purpose and to offer more presentations on topics relevant and critical to the members. At the same time, a golf tournament was organized and proceeds supported the Gene Huff Scholarship Foundation. In 1996 the conference moved to Lodge of the Four Seasons. As the organization grew during the 1980s and 1990s, there came to be as many as 75 professionals attending the state conference. Although local meetings in Kansas City and St. Louis may have actually preceded the state meetings in the 1970s, their popularity grew in the 1980s and they are strong entities today. 

In 1997, Doug Hatridge began formally leading the organization and recommended that an executive director be appointed to organize the state conference. He named Paul Drury as such, and Paul served in that capacity with the dream of growing the organization. As more and more districts and universities became involved in MOASPA, the organization established a formal structure between 2010 and 2015, including becoming a 501 (c) (3) with a full board of directors, a formalized budgeting process, biannual board meetings, and membership in SHRM and HRCI. In 2016, MOASPA began coordinating with MoASBO at its annual state conference and also established a presence at regional MASA meetings to build a network with superintendents across all Missouri districts. In 2020, MOASPA had over 150 members who met annually for the state conference and who exchanged information in person and online regularly throughout the year. In addition, MOASPA has four regional organizations in Kansas City, Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Springfield that meet periodically throughout the year for support and professional learning. MOASPA is also a member of the School Administrators Coalition, serves on the MACCE advisory board (DESE), and continues to work with MoASBO and AASPA to provide conference presentations.