History

In the spring of 1940, ten secretaries were called to Jefferson City to set in motion plans to organize the Missouri State Association of School Secretaries. This name was later changed to the Missouri Association of Educational Secretaries. Mr. Lloyd W. King, State Superintendent of Schools, was interested and instrumental in the organization of this group, which held its first meeting on November 8, 1940, at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City. Martha Painter was elected President and Adeline Fangman was elected Recording Secretary.

There were 23 paid members at the end of the first fiscal year. The first check of $5 was sent in to affiliate the Missouri Association of School Secretaries with the National Association on August 21, 1941. The first house organ (publication), The Missouri Educational Secretary, appeared in 1941. Its editor was Jane Trogdon. The largest circulation for the magazine was in the early 1970’s when our membership reached over 1,000!

The name of the Association was later changed from Secretaries to Office Personnel and, most recently, to Professionals in keeping with the National Association.

Jean DeBerry Fritsche from St. Louis County, who served as president of MAEOP for the 1959-61 term, went on to serve as NAEOP president in 1965-66. Her theme was, “Key to Opportunity." To this date she is the only Missouri member ever to serve as National president.

MAEOP member, Margaret Elder, CEOE, was installed as the NAREOP (National Association of Retired Educational Office Professionals) President in 2006. Her theme was "Unlock the Future, with Keys from the Past."

In 2014, Missouri's Debbie Geib, CEOE, became the Executive Director of NAEOP. She was MAEOP President in 2009-2010, with the theme of "Back 2 Basics."

OLIVE T. RITCHIE OFFICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Kim Brannon, CEOE 2018

Susan Brooker, CEOE 2020

Kim Brannon has been employed with Halfway R-III School District in Halfway, Missouri since 2006 as a bookkeeper/Asst to Superintendent. Before Halfway, Kim worked at Bolivar R-I School District for 8 years. Kim has a strong work ethic, is organized, knowledgeable, professional, goes the extra mile, possesses great leadership skills and has a pronominal eye for detail. As a leader among her peers, she manages her workload with ease and in a timely manner, she is the voice and the face of the central office in the superintendent’s absence.

Mrs. Brannon is an active member of her local, state and national educational office professional associations. As a member since 1998 of both the Ozark Area AEOP and Missouri AEOP, she’s on various committees as well as serving as President of both. Kim’s been a member of NAEOP since 2009, serving as the Conference Chairman for the NAEOP national conference that was held in St. Louis, MO in 2016.

Susan Brooker, CEOE 2020

Susan Brooker is the Secretary to the Superintendent and Board of Education in the Harrisonville Cass R-IX School District. The list of leadership positions Susan has held in NAEOP, MAEOP and her local association Cass County AEOP is long, but her greatest strength is her ability to make personal connections. Susan was instrumental in starting the mentor program for new attendees to MAEOP conferences. The mentors serve as contacts introducing themselves, welcoming new members to MAEOP and the conference, sharing what to expect at the conference and to answer any questions they might have. In addition to these things, Susan is considered an exceptional professional, with a passion to serve others.

Mrs. Brooker is an active member of her local, state and national educational office professional associations. As a member since 2008 of both the Cass County Area AEOP and Missouri AEOP, she’s on various committees as well as serving as President of both. Susan’s been a member of NAEOP since 2009, serving as the Conference Institute/Briefing Co-Chairman for the NAEOP national conference that was held in St. Louis, MO in 2016