About

Education

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Doctorate in Education Administration from St. Louis University.

Profession

Executive Director of the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities Foundation (MJCHF) since 2015. The MJCHF conducts activities that promote mutual understanding and respect among people of different cultures, races, and ethnicities. One of the 2015-16 highlights of the MJCHF is the “Conversation Toward a Brighter Future” project. Middle school and high school students are challenged to identify and research issues in their schools and communities, and create a plan for addressing these issues around the core values of Respect, Dignity, Understanding, and Forgiveness.

Retired as Superintendent of Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 in 2015. Under Dr. Hightower’s leadership, the School District grew from 5,000 students to over 7,000 students and developed into one of the top school districts in the State of Illinois, academically, athletically, and in the performing arts.

  • Raised over $1 million in personal donations toward the Technology in the 21st Century Classroom Initiative in 2012-2013.
  • Raised more than $5 million in personal donations to construct an aquatic center with an Olympic-sized swimming pool 2013-2014.
  • Raised more than $3 million in personal donations to construct a wrestling center in 2009-2010.
  • Supervised over $160 million in school construction during my tenure.
  • Worked collaboratively with Lewis & Clark Community College (LCCC) to build a joint-use $23 million facility for Edwardsville High School and LCCC students.

Educational Awards

Local and national recognition includes:

  • Illinois Distinguished Principals Award in 1989
  • Who’s Who of American Educators in 1992
  • Illinois Principal of the Year Award in 1993
  • National Distinguished Principals Award in 1993

Service Awards

  • Received the Elijah P. Lovejoy Human Rights Award in 1990.
  • Received Illinois Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Persons Award in 1990.
  • Selected as the Trails West Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2007.
  • Named to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Hall of Fame in 2012.

Boards of Directors

  • Served as trustee on the Lewis and Clark Community College Board of Trustees with over 26 years of service.
  • Served on the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees for 12 years and facilitated SIUE’s becoming a NCAA Division 1 sports program.
  • Served on the St. Anthony Hospital Board for 18 years.
  • Serves on the Saint Louis Zoo Board of Directors.
  • Serves on the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois.

Officiating Background

  • Division I basketball referee for 36 years
  • Officiated in 12 NCAA Final Four Championship tournaments.
  • Represented the United States at the 1990 World Championship of Basketball held in South America.
  • Selected as the “Neutral” basketball official for the European Basketball championship held in Munich, Germany, in 1993.
  • Represented the United States at the Goodwill Games held in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1994 and was selected to officiate the Gold Medal Basketball game.
  • Represented the United States at the Goodwill Games in New York in 1998.

Special Officiating Honors

  • Inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • Named one of the top 100 St. Louis area athletes of the century in 1999.
  • Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Association Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998.
  • Named National Association of Sports Officials Gold Whistle Award in 1995.
  • Awarded Missouri Athletic Club Carol O. Bauer Award in 1994.
  • Named Naismith College Official of the Year in 1992.

Hobbies

  • Golf

Family

  • Married to Barbara Hightower for 42 years
  • 2 daughters –

Julie Hightower – Pharmaceutical Representative, Owner of “A Better Day with Julie”, LLC

Jennifer Hightower – Associate Judge, 3rd Circuit of Madison County