LaMonds Receives Alumni Award

Dr. Joe Gilgour presents Dr. Jamie LaMonds with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony

Dr. Jamie LaMonds, the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award, is a cornerstone of the regional educational community with a career spanning twenty-eight years in the Farmington School District.

Her professional tenure began at Farmington High School in 1998 as an ELA teacher, where she quickly became a vibrant part of the school culture by coaching cheerleading, sponsoring Student Council, and founding the school’s first-ever Scholar Bowl team.

She transitioned to administration in 2004 when she accepted the role of Dean of Students, focusing on discipline and attendance while continuing her work in the classroom.

After nine years in that role, she was named Assistant Principal in 2013, eventually making history in 2018 as Farmington High School’s first female principal. Her leadership has been widely recognized by her peers, earning her the 2016 Southeast Regional Assistant Principal of the Year, the 2022 Walsworth Consummate Professional, and the 2024 Southeast Regional Principal of the Year.

Dr. LaMonds’ distinguished career is built upon an educational foundation that began at Mineral Area College, where she earned her associate degree.

She chose MAC for its local accessibility and the opportunity to work full-time, a path that allowed her to stay close to family and friends while being mentored by instructors like Elaine Flannigan, who fueled her passion for English Language Arts. She also shares a unique legacy with her father, having studied under Dr. Scobee and Mr. Walters, both of whom were also instructors during her father’s time at the college.

Following her graduation from MAC, she transferred to Southeast Missouri State University, where she earned a bachelor’s in Secondary Education and a master’s in Secondary Administration. She later earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri.

Dr. LaMonds lives in Farmington with her husband of twenty-two years, Samson. They have two sons, Maxson and Jasper.