The Moberly School Board introduced a new superintendent to the Spartan family at a community ice cream social Monday afternoon. Students, faculty and staff, as well as their families, welcomed Dr. Matthew S. Miller.
The school board hired Miller in December after former Superintendent Gena McCluskey announced her retirement. School Board President Matt Crist says Dr. Miller wasn’t contracted to begin working until July 1, but has not missed a school board meeting since his hiring was announced in December.
Before being hired, Miller proposed to develop positive and collaborative relationships with members of the Moberly community in a district entry plan he presented to the Moberly School Board.
Monday’s ice cream social was the first public step of Miller’s plan to engage and interact with the community to ensure student success. But Assistant Superintendent Parisa Stoddard, who has worked for the school district for 10 years, said Miller has been transitioning into the position since the moment he found out he was getting the job.
“We started transition meetings where we met weekly and talked about ongoing issues and things that we would be dealing with this school year, so his transition has been very smooth,” Stoddard said.
Dr. Miller says he will hold both formal and informal meetings to continue to foster relationships with community members and is excited for the school year.