Three men with Mid-Missouri connections were among the five individuals recognized Monday for their "exemplary contributions and commitment to public education in Missouri," the state Elementary and Secondary Education department said.
The "2011 Missouri Pioneers in Education" were honored during a luncheon in Columbia, at the 50th annual state conference for school administrators.
The honorees included Gary Sharpe, Jefferson City, who served as executive director of the Missouri Council of School Administrators from 1988 to 2007.