Springfield Public Schools News Release

News From Springfield Public Schools

Communications Department

1359 E. St. Louis Street

Springfield, MO  65802

417-523-INFO 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 29, 2017
  • Embree named Deputy Superintendent--Operations
  • KHS choir heads to Italy to perform at Vatican
  • National title caps off student's senior year   
Embree named Deputy Superintendent-Operations
For the past three years, Carol Embree has served Springfield Public Schools as Chief Finance and Operations Officer. Effective July 1, she will be Deputy Supe
rintendent-Operations. Her expanded role will include responsibility for the Human Resources department, in addition to her current responsibilities for the finance and operations departments. Chief Human Resources Officer Penney Rector will report directly to Embree.  Additionally, Embree's operations team will assume oversight of school safety and emergency planning.      
During executive session June 27, the school board unanimously approved Embree's contract for a two-year period ending June 30, 2019.
  "Carol is a key member of our Cabinet and she continues to work tirelessly to move our system forward each and every day and to effect the change that we all desire for SPS and our 25,000 students," explained Superintendent John Jungmann. "Her commitment to continuous improvement has had a major impact on our system and I look forward to seeing how this expanded role positively impacts these additional departments," added Jungmann.
 
The superintendent's Cabinet is comprised of executive leaders Embree, Rector, Chief Learning Officer Mike Dawson and a Chief Communications Officer, who is expected to be hired in the next few months.

KHS choir heads to Italy to perform at Vatican 
A dream will become reality for 32 Kickapoo High School choir members when they depart July 1 for Italy to participate in the Great Basilicas of Italy Choral Festival. The students will join other invited ensembles from the United States to form a festival chorus of 100 singers. The choir will tour and perform in Basilica cathedrals in Orvieto, Siena, Spoleto, Assisi and Rome. Highlights of the performance tour will be a festival concert performance in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi July 5 and performing during the 5 p.m. mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican July 6.

National title caps off student's senior year 
Connor Rothschild, who graduated in May from Kickapoo High School, won the national championship in international extemporaneous speaking at the National Speech and Debate Association tournament. He earned the title competing against 250 high school students who are considered the most knowledgeable about international issues.

The last time SPS had a national finalist in a main event was Parkview High School in 2004.  

The national championship earned Connor a $1,000 scholarship from The Council on Foreign Relations and a $5,000 scholarship from E.F. Hutton. He will attend Rice University this fall and will major in social policy analysis.