|
|
|
Board Hires New
R-2 Leader The Chillicothe R-2 School Board has announced the hiring of Dr. Linda Gray Smith as the superintendent of schools beginning July 1, 2008. Smith is the current superintendent of the Worth County R-3 School District in Grant City, Mo., where she has served in that position for the past nine years. "It is both an honor and an opportunity to serve the R-2 district and the community," Worth said this (Friday) morning. Prior to leading that school district, she worked as a reading and English teacher at Bedford, Iowa and an elementary and middle school principal at Lamoni, Iowa. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwest Missouri State University and her Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Dale Wallace, current R-2 superintendent who is retiring at the end of the current fiscal year, stated that Smith is considered one of the best superintendents in Northwest Missouri and he commended the school board on their selection. "Dr. Smith will be an excellent superintendent for the Chillicothe R-2 School District and I'm looking forward to helping her transition into the position," he said. Smith's initial contract, which calls for a base salary of $110,000, runs through June 30, 2010. The board was unanimous in the decision to hire Smith. Board president Eric Reeter, who described Smith as "impressive" and "energetic," said Smith was the most qualified candidate of the five superintendent candidates interviewed over the past few weeks. Smith noted the morning that she in impressed by the R-2 board and the achievements made by its staff and students. "You also have a very exciting and viable community and I'm looking forward to becoming a part of it," Smith said. She noted that her passion in education starts and ends with the students she serves. "The whole district functions to educate the kids and to do that, you need strong staff members and strong facilities to provide what the kids need," she said. Then, she added, safe transportation and many, many more factors are all key ingredients toward educational success. "It all fits together," she said. The Worth County R-3 School District has a roster of about 400 students in grades kindergarten through 12. However, Gray explained that her district has partnered with neighboring districts often, giving her needed experience in working with larger groups of administrators, students and staff. For example, Smith said the R-3 District has served as the fiscal agent for an 11-district computer/technology project that has helped place about $440,000 of computer technology into the classrooms of about 6,000 students. Smith and her husband, Kenneth, currently reside on a four generation farm in the Worth County area. She noted that their son has returned to manage the farm, making the decision to move an easier one for her and her husband. "I am very pleased to have the opportunity come to Chillicothe and I'm excited to get to know the community and staff members." |
