Dr. Tony L. Stansberry
November 27, 1942-February 27, 2021
One of the greatest lights in the field of education has dimmed. Dimmed-but not extinguished-because Dr. Tony L. Stansberry is surely beyond this life collaborating, conferencing and conceptualizing…… all with great humanity because Dr. Tony Stansberry was just that -the epitome of compassionate leadership.
Dr. Tony Stansberry, age 78, passed away peacefully February 27, 2021 at the Olathe Hospice House with his beloved wife and daughter by his side.
Dr. Stansberry was born in San Angelo, TX. He graduated from Golden City High School, Golden City, MO in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education, with a minor in Military Science from Southwest Missouri State University in 1967. In 1973, Dr. Stansberry earned a Masters Degree in Administration and in 1974, he earned an Education Specialist degree both from Kansas State College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University). In 1976 he completed his Ph.D in School Administration from Kansas State University in just one year.
Dr. Stansberry served in the US Army and Army National Guard from 1963 to 1995. During his time of service he earned several medals including the Legion of Merit which is the Army’s highest award for performance in peacetime. He retired from the service at the rank of Brigadier General. While serving in the military, Dr. Stansberry taught music at the high school level in both El Dorado Springs, MO and in Pittsburg, KS. He was director of marching band, concert band, orchestra, and mixed chorus, groups that consistently received 1 ratings at the State Level.
He held various positions moving up the education ladder. After obtaining his masters degrees, he served as principal in McCune, KS, and as an assistant superintendent in Wamego, KS. He began his superintendency career in Basehor, KS. before moving on to Grandview, MO., Colorado Springs, CO., and Lee’s Summit, MO. He concluded his career as an area supervisor with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Although he lived by the motto ‘work for a cause not for applause’, Dr. Stansberry still received far too many awards during his career in education to list here. In fact, in 2007 the Lee’s Summit District recognized Dr. Stansberry’s lasting impact by naming the Tony L. Stansberry Leadership Center in his honor.
Katy Bergen, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Director of Public Relations, said Dr. Stansberry “left an indelible mark on the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District during his years as Superintendent (1996 to 2006), He led the district through significant growth, overseeing multiple successful bond issues and two levy increases during times of decreased state funding and exponential student growth.
“Over the years, he served as a mentor to countless leaders in the district and earned respect for a leadership philosophy he described as ‘tough on issues, soft on people.’ He was also admired for his unrelenting commitment to student achievement and a collaborative approach to district decisions, including his ability to involve the community in decision-making.”
Dr Stansberry served as superintendent of the Grandview C-4 School District from 1983 until 1993. Current Grandview Superintendent Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, explained that during Stansberry’s tenure, the City of Grandview was growing and changing to become a more diverse community. “This led to many challenges,” Rodrequez said, “but nothing that Dr. Stansberry’s community minded approach could not handle.”
Rodrequez said Stansberry’s legacy is still felt today in the Grandview C-4 School District as he helped to create the Grandview 10 collaborative process which allows for “valuable stakeholder input to be gathered around salaries, benefits, and quality of life concerns.”
But Superintendent Rodrequez also holds Dr. Stansberry in high personal regard. “For me, he was a mentor to administrators during his tenure with DESE. He continually would take the time to meet with area leaders to provide whatever guidance that he could. While he never needed to do so, he would go out of his way to meet with me and discuss history, leadership, and life, all of which I found extremely valuable as a new administrator in KC.”
Roger Tisch, who served as president of the Board of Education while Dr. Stansberry was superintendent agrees with Dr. Rodrequez. “Dr. Stansberry was a Godsend to the Grandview School District when he accepted the position of Superintendent. To a district recovering from personnel turmoil and low morale, low student outcomes, and an eager but inexperienced Board, he came as a ray of sunshine, a beacon of hope, a spreader of optimism, bearing a vision of what could be and the knowledge and dedication to make the vision become reality.”
Tisch went on to discuss Dr. Stansberry’s unique talent for inspiring collaborative decision making and referred to him as “a giant in educational leadership always displaying compassion for the person and inspiring collaboration for the project.”
“Tony demonstrated daily the reasons why he was a remarkably successful leader. “He was standing on a rock solid base of truth, honesty, sincerity, humility, tenacity, knowledge, common sense, humor and above all compassion for others. Indeed, Tony Stansberry is one of a kind.”
John Faulkenberry, former principal of Lee’s Summit High School agreed, “Tony meant the world to me, certainly professionally, but most importantly, personally. He became a dear friend.”
“Reflecting upon Tony’s legacy, I would say the following: Tony was the ultimate “we” leader. The word stakeholder has become overused. However, while Tony was superintendent, if you had any stake in the R7 District, your voice would not only be heard, it would be included in decision making.”
Faulkenberry cited three primary aspects of Dr Stansberry’s unique leadership style.
First, he said “Tony truly valued employees through all levels of the school district. The manner in which policies were set, and money was spent, clearly reflected his focus on people.”
Secondly, he said, “Tony was masterful at partnering with the community. Whether it be the Economic Development Council, Chamber of Lee’s Summit, the City of Lee’s Summit government, civic clubs, or simply members of the community, Tony always made R7 a partner. He brought leaders from these organizations in to assist R7 with tackling complex issues. In turn, they worked closely with R7 as the community grew.”
And finally, Faulkenberry said, “I was always immensely proud to work for Tony Stansberry. He inspired me, and many others, and backed up the inspiration with tangible, meaningful actions. Kids and families in Lee’s Summit benefited, robustly, due to his leadership.”
A real consensus exists among those who worked with or with those who followed Dr. Tony Stansberry. Not only was he an exceptional educational leader but he was a leader with a heart. Carole Wall-Simmons, who went to work for Dr. Stansberry in 1990 as the District’s first Public Relations Coordinator, finds it hard not to get emotional. “I learned so much from him. I watched in awe as he worked his magic with all employees and staff, community leaders and citizens, as well as the members of the media. But it wasn’t magic - it was just him -a man who had a passion for education, a love of the art of collaboration and a heart.”
He leaves behind his childhood sweetheart and wife of 57 years Christine, a daughter Natasha Lucas, Kansas City, KS and two grandchildren Clayton Lucas (25) and Chase Lucas (16), also of Kansas City, KS. along with brothers Charles (Holly) of St. Charles, MO, Lowell G. (Carolyn), Baldwin City, KS and Jerry (Sandy) of Lamar, MO. and his beloved nieces and nephews.
Private family graveside services will be held Friday, March 5, 2021 at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.
A celebration of Dr. Stansberry’s life, entitled “Dr. Tony Stansberry (1942-2021) A Retrospective: His Life of Compassionate Leadership”, will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 2:30 pm in the auditorium of Grandview Senior High School, 2300 High Grove Rd., Grandview, MO 64030. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Jude’s. Gift Funds: Tony Stansberry - Gift Funds for St. Jude (fundraising.stjude.org.
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