The School of the Osage School District announces the retirement of Dr. Laura Nelson, effective June 30, 2025.
Dr. Nelson has served the district since 2013, when she was hired as an Assistant Superintendent (Academic Services), followed by advancement to Deputy Superintendent in 2014, Interim Superintendent in 2018, and Superintendent in 2019. Under her leadership, the district achieved an 88.2% Annual Performance Report score, earned recognition as one of only six Missouri districts to receive the ASBO Meritorious Budget Award, advanced facilities, and won the MOSPRA Excellence in Communication Award two years in a row for The Osage Way magazine. Most importantly, Dr. Nelson has been intensely student-focused and driven to help us live out our mission, vision, and core values.
Before joining School of the Osage, Dr. Nelson worked for 14 years in the Saint Joseph School District. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Arts in English from Northwest Missouri State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Beyond her district leadership, Dr. Nelson has contributed to educational advancement through her service on the Missouri Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors and Legislative Committee. She is a Regional Facilitator for the Missouri Association of School Administrators Women in Leadership program, Past Chair of the Missouri ACT Council, and has served as both a Missouri Quality Award Examiner and an AdvancED examiner.
Her community involvement includes serving as a Board Member, Executive Council Secretary, and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. She has also served on the Kids Harbor Advocacy Center Board of Directors and is an active member of the Lake Area Rotary.
Board President Darrick Steen shared, “The Board of Education is proud of the things we’ve accomplished at Osage under Dr. Nelson’s tenure as Superintendent, and therefore it’s bittersweet to learn of her retirement. Dr. Nelson’s tenure has always been focused on what was best for students and staff, making decisions based on data and core values, and working collaboratively toward common goals. As she departs later in June, she leaves behind a “legacy of positive change and achievement” at Osage and we are grateful for that. The Board’s attention now shifts to filling Dr. Nelson’s shoes and finding someone that can carry on this important work and growing these successes.”
Dr. Nelson expressed her gratitude, sharing, “I want to emphasize that this decision to ‘retire’ represents not an end but a transition. While I will be concluding my role at Osage, I remain passionate about education and community service. This change will allow me to explore new opportunities to add value while being closer to family. My decision comes from a deep reflection on both personal and professional priorities. As many of you know, I have maintained strong ties to the St. Joseph area, where my family has deep roots spanning generations.
Throughout my tenure at Osage, we have achieved remarkable progress together. Our district is thriving across all areas of our mission - from student achievement to staff development, family engagement, and community partnerships. We’ve lived our core values daily, and the results speak for themselves. This success is a testament to our collaborative spirit and the unwavering support of our exceptional Board of Education. Looking ahead, I am confident in Osage's bright future. The strong foundations we've built together, the dedicated staff, supportive community, and most importantly, our amazing students, all point to continued success. As I've always said, it's a great day to be an Indian - and that will remain true long for me after my departure.”
The Board of Education will accept Dr. Nelson’s retirement during an executive session of the January board meeting. Dr. Nelson will continue to serve the district until her retirement on June 30, 2025. The Board of Education and district will publicize information about the process for hiring the next superintendent as decisions are made.