Schaumburg started his career as a radio announcer for 15 years, including stints at WPAD/WDDJ, Paducah; WCBL-AM-FM, Benton, Ky.; and WMOK, Metropolis, Ill. Then, for six years, he was a staff writer at the Mayfield Messenger newspaper. He has served the Graves County Schools in his current position since 2002.
The O.V. Jones Award is presented "for Outstanding Service to KYSPRA and the school public relations profession," according to the organization. Named for the late Superintendent O.V. Jones of the Grant County Schools, the first superintendent to join KYSPRA, the award annually recognizes the contributions of a KYSPRA member.
In presenting the award at KYSPRA's fall conference, Daviess County Schools public relations director Linda Salyer said, "Described by his colleagues as a servant leader who is talented, highly effective, widely respected, and admired by colleagues, students, and parents, Schaumburg serves as both an ambassador and voice of the Graves County Schools. He is a teacher to many when it comes to effective communications and outstanding customer service. Through the years, he has shared thousands of great stories about the district's students and staff through both spoken and written word."
In accepting the award, Schaumburg said he felt honored to be in the company of outstanding school PR practitioners KYSPRA previously has presented the same award as well as current colleagues. "I love what I do," he told the assembly, "and I'll bet you (love what you do), too."
Schaumburg has written hundreds of news and feature stories and released numerous photos to media and the district web site. He also has written and voiced commercials for the district on local radio broadcasts of high school sports.
The Kentucky Association of School Administrators honored Schaumburg as the district level Administrator of the Year at the organization's 50th Annual Leadership Institute in Louisville in late July.
That award represents the highest honor KASA bestows annually on practicing administrators, recognizing "outstanding leadership, significant contributions to the effectiveness of the association, and the honor they bring to themselves, their colleagues, and their profession."
Schaumburg has presented programs on PR and communication at the conferences of KYSPRA, KASA, the Southern Regional Education Board and the Kentucky Organization of Superintendents Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
Since 1996, he has taught more than 100 classes as an adjunct instructor of public speaking, interpersonal and organizational communication at Murray State University, Shawnee Community College, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, and the former Mid-Continent College.
Schaumburg earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in mass communication and speech communication from Western Kentucky University and two master's degrees from MSU – one in speech communication, the other in mass communication.
