Missouri School Boards' Association
Dr. Carter D. Ward
Executive Director
Missouri School Boards' Association
Dr. Carter D. Ward is executive director of the Missouri School Boards' Association and has served in that capacity since 1983. Ward is also the executive director of MSBA's foundation, FutureBuilders, and has served in that capacity since 1995.
Under his leadership MSBA not only continues to provide outstanding training and advocacy services for Missouri school boards, but has developed a number of innovative programs in the areas of school finance, technology, and risk management.
Ward is widely recognized for his expertise in strategic planning. He has served on numerous state association review teams for the National School Boards Association and is past chairman of the Federation Member Executive Directors' NSBA Liaison Committee.
In 2007 Dr. Ward received the National School Boards Association Thomas A. Shannon Award for Excellence in School Boards Association Leadership, and in 2008 Central Methodist University conferred on Dr. Ward the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Accomplishments.
Ward earned his Doctorate in General School Administration and Statistics from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He holds undergraduate degrees from Central Methodist University and Central Missouri State University. He has also been a mathematics teacher and administrator in secondary schools in Missouri.