Annually, the Kansas State High School Activities Association presents the KSHSAA Governor’s Award recognizing one individual for outstanding contributions in the field of secondary education in Kansas. This year, they selected KASB’s own Dr. Doug Moeckel to receive this prestigious award.

The KSHSAA Governor’s Award Selection Committee is comprised of the presidents of the Kansas National Education Association, Kansas Association of School Boards, Kansas Principals Association, United School Administrators and the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association.

Dr. Moeckel came to work at KASB in 2007 as Board/Administrator Development Specialist in the Leadership Services Department. In 2010, he was named Associate Executive Director for Leadership and from 2011 to 2019 served as KASB’s Deputy Executive Director.

Since 2020, Doug has been the Kansas Co-Lead/Leadership Consultant for the U.S. Department of Education’s Region 12 Comprehensive Center. In that role, he is working with national education experts to support the work of the Kansas State Department of Education, including projects such as school redesign, accreditation and strengthening school district and building leadership. He also continues to work with the KASB Leadership Services Department in areas such as board strategic planning and working with the United School Administrators to provide professional development to superintendents and principals.

In those roles, Dr. Moeckel has worked with the State Board of Education and numerous local boards across Kansas, has lead multiple superintendent services and follow-up work on board and superintendent relations, and has been a fixture at KASB seminars, services center activities and training for school leaders throughout Kansas for 17 years. His earning the Governor’s award was praised by the state’s top educational leaders.

“No one is more deserving of the Governor’s Award than Dr. Moeckel,” said Commissioner of Education Randy Watson. “He has dedicated his life to bettering other people in education and continues that work today.”

KASB executive director Brian Jordan stressed Doug contributions to both KASB staff and public education. “Over the past decade, Dr. Moeckel has served as a personal mentor and coach to me. I have also had the opportunity to work beside him with countless leaders across this state. He has always approached his work through the lens of building leadership capacity to help all Kansas students.”

G.A. Buie, executive director of the United School Administrators, agreed. “It's hard to imagine the number of kids and leaders Dr. Moekel has touched over his career. He always seems to understand the right support they need. For me, he has been a mentor, listener, supporter, colleague and friend. What makes Doug such a special leader is he always seems to understand which role he needs to fill on any given day. USA-Kansas has been blessed to have Doug as a facilitator, he challenges our leaders to be a better version of themselves each day, and empowers leaders with the opportunities to grow their leadership skills through their personal experiences and opportunities.” 

Prior to working at KASB, Dr. Moeckel served as superintendent from 2002 to 2007 at Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Genese USD 327, where he had previously been a principal and teacher. He also taught in Chapman, Victoria and Buhler.

Doug earned an Ed. D.  in Educational Administration from Kansas State University in 1999, a Master of Science in Physical Education from Fort Hays State University in 1983 and a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in 1977.