Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) is proud to announce that Larin Davis, the District’s Executive Director of Operations and Risk Management, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious APPA Pacesetter Award for 2026. Granted by the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA), this international award recognizes individuals who have made significant, impactful contributions to their regional chapters while driving institutional excellence in educational facilities management.
The Pacesetter Award is highly selective, with only two recipients this year. It celebrates trailblazers who actively promote professional development, pioneer innovative operational frameworks, and advance the educational facilities profession to directly enhance student success.
Since assuming her role, Ms. Davis has effectively incorporated strict compliance with state and local regulations into the daily operations of the District's capital footprint. Under her leadership, PCPS has successfully managed extensive facility structures, multi-million dollar bond construction projects, and complex asset lifecycles throughout the district's vast instructional space.
"This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our entire maintenance, transportation, technology, and campus nutrition teams," said Ms. Davis. "In public education, our facilities are an extension of the classroom. Striking a careful balance between fiscal responsibility, rigorous structural compliance, and continuous modernization allows us to provide safe, innovative learning environments where Ponca City students can truly thrive."
Beyond local management, the APPA Pacesetter Award highlights Ms. Davis’s dedication to sharing these successful management models with peers across the educational sector, mentoring upcoming facilities leaders, and contributing to the broader international body of facilities knowledge.
"We are incredibly proud to see Ms. Davis recognized on an international stage," said Adam Leaming, Superintendent of Ponca City Public Schools. "Ms. Davis’s dual commitment to strict regulatory accountability and strategic foresight ensures that our school buildings operate safely, efficiently, and effectively. This award underscores what we in Ponca City have known since her hire: our operations department is led by one of the absolute best in the nation."
Ms. Davis will be formally presented with the Pacesetter Award at the upcoming APPA conference in July.
For more information about Ponca City Public Schools’ operations, planning, and current projects, please visit pcps.us.