Proctor awarded the Virginia Allred Stacey Founders Award

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools has recognized Ray Proctor, who recently retired as Associate Superintendent of Business Services at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, with the Virginia Allred Stacey Founders Award. The award – the highest that NAFIS offers – was presented at the 2022 NAFIS Spring Conference.

Proctor was honored for his leadership, dedication and service to the Impact Aid community and its students. Impact Aid reimburses school districts for the loss of revenue caused by the presence of nontaxable federal property, including military installations; Indian Trust, Treaty and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act lands; federal low-income housing; and national parks, national laboratories and other federal buildings and property. It helps ensure students who attend schools on or near federal property have access to a quality education.

Proctor was involved with Impact Aid and NAFIS for over 28 years during his time as Associate Superintendent of Business Services at FUESD. He was committed to all sections of the Impact Aid program, as his district receives both Section 7002 Federal Property and Section 7003 Basic Support funds due to the presence of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook Naval Weapons Station. He served on the NAFIS Board of Directors for 12 years, including several terms as treasurer. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Military Impacted Schools Association.

Proctor was the catalyst behind the NAFIS Data Verification Group over 20 years ago, which he chaired until his retirement. He advocated tirelessly to ensure NAFIS had access to U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid Office student count and payment data by school district. He also led the DVG's analysis of that data to determine the funding needs of the Section 7003 program, ensuring NAFIS took a data-driven approach to advocacy.

"Ray is the very definition of what the NAFIS Founders Award represents," said NAFIS Interim Executive Director John Forkenbrock. "He was tenacious in his dedication to NAFIS, and he insisted that every iteration of data be analyzed to ensure an accurate estimation of payment needs each year. Thanks to Ray, the NAFIS funding request to Congress is always easily justifiable, which is critical in advocacy work and has helped secure increases for the past several years, ensuring students in Fallbrook and other federally impacted school districts across the country have opportunities and resources they need. I am pleased that NAFIS is recognizing him with this award."

The entire NAFIS Family joins together in thanking Ray Proctor for his work to strengthen and protect Impact Aid.

Submitted by the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools.