Literacy expert, Drury official accepts leadership job in Willard school district

The former dean of Drury University's College of Education and Child Development has accepted a job in an area K-12 district.

Shannon Cuff is the associate provost of adult, online and graduate education at the private liberal arts institution in Springfield. She is responsible for curriculum development and assessment, faculty and academic staff, academic advising, student issues, and course schedules.

This fall, she will be the executive director of teaching and learning for the Willard school district.

Willard Superintendent Eric Wilken said in a Monday news release that the district was excited to have Cuff join its leadership team.

“Her experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we continue to provide the best possible learning environment for our students," he said.

Cuff will start the new job July 1. Asked about her salary, the Willard district said minimum pay for the position starts at $103,520.

She will assist with the district's academic programs and initiatives and work closely with students, principals and instructional coaches, among others.

For Cuff, the move is a homecoming of sorts.

She taught English at Willard High School for six years before pursuing her doctoral studies. She has a bachelor's and master's degree from Drury and a doctorate in literacy education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“I am thrilled to return to the district where my career in education started to once again become a member of the Willard family,” she said, in the release. “I am passionate about teaching and learning and cannot wait to support the great work of our students, staff, and faculty.”

Her career in high education includes working as a literacy education instruction and director of the Watson Literacy Center at Park University.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Literacy expert, Drury official accepts job in Willard school district