DR. DAVID BENSON

  • Former Blue Valley School District Superintendent (1993-2004)

  • 2001 Kansas Superintendent of the Year

  • 44 year career as an educator in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa

  • Former Kansas State Representative (2019-2020)

Born and raised in Chanute, Kansas, Dave is a graduate of Chanute High School. Married to Donni Benson for over 50 years, they have two adult children (and one grandchild). He is an alumnus of Pittsburg State University, Wichita State University, and earned a Doctoral Degree from Kansas State University. Dave is retired from an active 44 year career as an educator, serving as a Superintendent of Schools in Kansas (Moundridge USD#423 and Blue Valley USD#229), Missouri (Ladue School District and Lee’s Summit R-7), and Iowa (Fort Madison CSD and Cedar Rapids CSD). He worked collaboratively with all staff and community members in some of mid-America’s finest public school districts and was recognized as the Kansas Superintendent of the Year in 2001.

In 2018, Dr. Benson was elected to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives for District 48. During his time in Topeka, he served on the Financial Institutions and Pensions, Education, and K-12 Education Budget committees until he moved from the district in 2020.

Dr. Benson’s community engagements include:

  • Member - Overland Park Chamber of Commerce

  • Member - Mainstream Coalition

  • Board Member - United Way of Eastern Iowa

  • Board Member - Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce

  • Chairman of the Board - Creve Coeur/Olivette Chamber of Commerce

  • Board Member - Overland Park Chamber of Commerce

  • Alumni Board Member - Pittsburg State University

  • President of the Board - United Community Services of Johnson County

  • Board Member - Heart of America United Way for Metropolitan Kansas City

Among Dave’s many awards and recognitions is a Congressional Tribute for Outstanding Service as the Superintendent of Blue Valley Schools in the Federal Congressional Record on June 2, 2004. Other significant awards and recognitions include the Paul Simon Award for Outstanding Contributions in Foreign Langage Education in 2013, Administrator of the Year from the Missouri School Public Relations Assocation, an Honorary Star from the Stop Violence Coalition, Outstanding Labor Management Relations from the National Education Saturn/UAW, Communicator of the Year from the Kansas Public Relations Association in 2000, and a Meritorous Achievement Award from Pittsburg State University in 1997. Dave is also a graduate of Leadership Overland Park and Leadership Kansas.