KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - Brian Garner, current school superintendent in Stanberry, will become North Callaway School's leader starting July 1.
Current Superintendent Bryan Thomsen will leave his position in the North Callaway R-1 District at the end of June to become superintendent at the Oak Grove R-6 School District, school officials said recently.
Garner has 27 years of experience in education, with more than 20 in administration. Besides serving the Stanberry R-2 School District, he also worked five years at the Ladue School District. Originally from Columbia, he holds a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in education, both from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He also has an educational specialist degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In mid-January, Thomsen announced his pending resignation, and said he'd be staying until the end of the 2017-18 school year. He joined the district as superintendent on July 1, 2009. His wife, Brandi, is a softball coach with the district, and their son participates in sports.
The North Callaway Board of Education conducted an extensive search for a new superintendent, led by a team of consultants from the Missouri School Board Association. The search process included collecting input from the local community, faculty and staff regarding the values and characteristics most desired in a new superintendent.
"As we began this search, the feedback from the district matched the view of the board of education," Board President Regan Love said. "We wanted to find someone who will continue the same positive leadership for our district that Dr. Thomsen has provided in recent years, plus possess experience and an understanding of what is needed to move forward into the future. Mr. Garner stood out as the right leader to move North Callaway forward and impact student success."
In addition to hiring a new superintendent, the North Callaway Board of Education is also focused on the financial future of the district. A proposed tax levy increase will be on Tuesday's municipal election ballot. The proposed increase, if approved, would fund increases for teachers' salaries, plus add to the district's operating budget for technology and transportation. In a ranking of 25 area districts' base salaries for teachers, North Callaway ranks third from last. The previous levy increase for North Callaway occurred in 2003.
For more information, visit www.nc.k12.mo.us.