77 Missouri superintendents concerned about Gov. Greitens' actions

We are deeply concerned. Recent actions taken by Governor Greitens and his team send a clear message: Missouri faces a drastic reshaping of our education landscape. Membership on the Missouri State Board of Education now appears to be limited to those who agree to the demand from Governor Greitens that the current commissioner of education be terminated.

This is unprecedented and undermines Missouri’s constitution, which designed the State Board of Education to be independent.

We fear that this strategy will culminate in the appointment of an out-of-state charter school advocate with no understanding of our state or region, who intends to bring a national school reform agenda to Missouri that is a proven failure across our country. We implore Governor Greitens to reconsider. Continuation on this path will harm the educational experience and destroy collaborative progress. 

As southwest Missouri superintendents, we have one simple request for Governor Greitens: Please visit our school districts. 

We know that Governor Greitens has a complex, difficult and time-consuming job, but we believe he will find tremendous value in visiting our schools and classrooms. These visits will provide a clear picture of the heroic work happening – thanks to our educators, support staff and community partners. 

By accepting our invitation, Governor Greitens will have an opportunity to see, first-hand, the thousands of talented Missouri educators in action. It will be clear why our public schools are the cornerstone of our communities. 

Please visit our districts, Governor Greitens. 
•    See our teachers and communities address the health, hunger, and hygiene needs of our students. Many families lack the resources to provide these essentials.
•    See the many opportunities for rigorous and relevant coursework through programs such as advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, dual credit, and career and technical education.
•    See our teachers connect with parents and early learners through Parents as Teachers programs and pre-kindergarten experiences.
•    See our schools engage with business partners to help students test drive high-demand career opportunities through programs like GO CAPS.
•    See our schools work to solve course access challenges through in-district on-line programs, and LAUNCH – a new partnership involving more than 30 school districts across this region.
•    See our teachers grow through collaborative learning experiences with hundreds of other educators at events like the Innovation Summit and STAR Summit.
•    See the many ways we engage with our parents and community regarding the most important education outcomes. Hear them echo our belief that standardized testing should not be the only measuring stick used to evaluate a student or the school’s quality and impact.
•    See how each of our communities and school districts are unique and how our boards of education serve as effective governing structures to represent our community’s best interest.

Missouri’s 900,000 public education students are counting on our teachers and support teams to work in tandem with families to shape their future. Our 77 districts represent more than 126,000 of those students. Our work is vitally important and it is critical that we get it right. We are at a crossroads, and the steps we take now will leave a lasting impact on many lives – for many years to come.

The attempt to terminate Missouri’s education commissioner is not about children. It’s about politics. We assert that working on behalf of children is the most non-partisan issue of all. Unless Missouri changes course, our students will be the ones who suffer from this political fallout.

Missouri is known as the Show-Me State. We hope that Governor Greitens will allow us to “show him” exactly how our education community is working collectively to impact the lives of our next generation in a positive way – every day. 

Please visit our districts, Governor Greitens. The time for conversation and engagement is now.

John Jungmann is superintendent of Springfield Public Schools. Kevin Patterson is superintendent of the Ozark R-VI school district. 

Supported By: Aaron Gerla, Ash Grove R-IV, Billy Redus, Aurora R-VIII, Jason Dial, Ava R-I, Amy Britt, Bakersfield R-IV, Doug Arnold, Blue Eye R-V, Tony Berry, Bolivar R-I, Brad Swofford, Branson R-IV, David Copeland, Bronaugh R-VII, Robin Ritchie, Cabool R-IV, Tim Hadfield, Camdenton R-III, Phillip Cook, Carl Junction R-I, Richard Asbill, Cassville R-IV, Dana Comstock, Chadwick R-I, Robyn Gordon, Clever R-V, Chris Johnson, Crane R-III, Tim Ryan, Dallas County R-I, Steve Richards, Dora R-III
Ron Mitchell, East Newton R-VI, Karl Janson, Everton R-III, Mike Bell, Fair Grove R-X, Renee Sagaser, Fair Play R-II, Chris Ford, Fordland R-III, Jeff Mingus, Forsyth R-III
Danny Humble, Galena R-II, Wayne Stewart, Glenwood R-VIII, Jeff Davis, Greenfield R-IV, Tim Boatwright, Halfway R-III, Mark Piper, Hartville R-II, Ed Vest, Hermitage R-IV, Brian Wilson, Hollister R-V, Allen Moss, Houston R-I, Tammy Erwin, Humansville R-1
John Dern, Junction Hill C-12, Carless Osbourn, Kirbyville R-VI, Mark Hedger, Laclede Co. R-I, Zach Harris, Lamar R-I, Don Christensen, Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III, Clay Lasater, Lockwood R-I, Shawn Randles, Logan-Rogersville R-VIII, Joshua Phillips, Macks Creek R-V, Nate Moore, Mansfield R-IV, Josh Angel, Marion C. Early R-V, David Steward, Marshfield R-I, Mark Stanton, McDonald County R-I, Dustin Storm, Miller R-II, Scott Cook, Mount Vernon R-V, Jim Dickey, Mountain Grove R-III, Dan Decker, Neosho School District, Tyson Beshore, Nevada R-V, Stephen Kleinsmith, Nixa Public Schools, Russ Moreland, Pierce City R-VI, Kim Hawk, Plato R-V, Steven Chancellor, Purdy R-II, Michael Mason, Reeds Spring R-IV, Chance Wistrom, Republic R-III, Kevin Goddard, Sarcoxie R-II, Jim Cummins, Seneca R-VII, Bruce Denney, Seymour R-II, Jason Irwin, Sheldon R-VIII, Shelly Fransen, Shell Knob #78, Rocky Valentine, Sparta R-III, Terry Jamieson, Spokane R-VII, Shannon Show, Stockton R-I, Doug Dahman, Stoutland R-II, John Collins, Strafford R-VI, Tara Roberts, Taneyville R-II, Tonya Woods, Thayer R-II, Tony Simmons, Verona R-VII, Eric Wilken, Weaubleau R-III,Tony Rossetti, Webb City R-VII, John Mulford, West Plains R-VII, Tim Judd, Wheatland R-II, Lance Massey, Wheaton R-III, Matt Teeter, Willard R-II, William Hall, Willow Springs R-IV