As a marathon runner, David Tramel loves a challenge. That's one of the reasons he accepted the job starting July 1 as the new superintendent of the New Bloomfield R-III School District.
"I believe the superintendent's job will be both a challenge and an opportunity," Tramel said. "I have verbally accepted the offer from the New Bloomfield School District."
Asked what the New Bloomfield School Board wanted him to accomplish as superintendent, Tramel said:
"Obviously there has been a little turmoil at the New Bloomfield School District. Like every school, they are facing financial issues and achievement issues. I think those are the two major issues to tend to right now. Every school in the state is struggling with finances and all of them also are trying to meet the demands of the state achievement standards. Those will be the focus of our efforts."
Tramel said the Canton R-V School District will have a Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, at which time he will offer his resignation from the next year's contract that had been renewed.
"I have been in Canton as superintendent for 10 years. It's a wonderful school. The board is aware of my decision," Tramel said. "It's tough to resign but my wife and I want to relocate to Central Missouri. New Bloomfield is an opportunity I could not turn down."
He said the couple has family in Central Missouri and his wife is going to be teaching at the new regional Catholic school in Columbia.
"That is a career path she wants to pursue. This job in nearby New Bloomfield makes this very much a family move and opportunity for us to become a part of the Central Missouri community," Tramel said.
Tramel, 47, grew up in Northeast Missouri. He is a 1982 graduate of Clark County R-I High School in Kahoka.
After high school he had six years of National Guard service and was able to gain a college education from military duty. He is a 1989 graduate of Northeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in education administration in 1992.
He received an education specialist degree in 1998 from the University of Missouri-Columbia, qualifying him for certification as a school superintendent.
Tramel said while going to school he worked at a wide variety of jobs.
"I changed tires, ran a service truck, worked as a mechanic, painted houses and farmed. It served me well. If you sit at a desk for very long it helps to get out and work up a sweat to learn what work is all about," Tramel said. "I taught at LaPlata and the Knox County School District and then I entered school administration after that."
Tramel's first administrative job was at an elementary school at Luray School District. He then became a high school principal for five years at Adair County R-II School in Brashear.
Tramel's first job as a superintendent was at Atlanta, Mo. He had been there for two years when the superintendent's job at Canton became open.
"I've been at Canton as superintendent for the last 10 years," Tramel said.
In 1986 Tramel and his wife Paulina were married. They are the parents of two sons, Nathan and Garrett.
Nathan is a computer engineering major at Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla, and Garrett is a junior in high school.
"One of the rules of the Catholic Diocese in Jefferson City is that all of the school children of employees in the diocese must attend a Catholic school. So Garrett will finish his last year at Helias High School in Jefferson City," Tramel said. "I would love to have him in New Bloomfield High School. But our faith is a big part of our lives.
"It certainly should not be interpreted as an indictment against New Bloomfield. This is just the way it worked out."
Tramel said he has a sister who teaches at Ashland, another sister who is a juvenile officer at Mexico, and cousins in Jefferson City.
"So we get to Central Missouri and the New Bloomfield area quite often," Tramel said. "When the opening for superintendent appeared at New Bloomfield, I was excited about the opportunity. I know there will be lots of challenges but there also is a world of opportunity. I look forward to being the new superintendent."