SPS makes five leadership hires, promotions including new HR chief

Springfield Public Schools announced five leadership hires Thursday including Bret Range, a long-time district leader, who will serve as next chief human resources officer.

That position has experienced significant turnover in the past seven years. Following Parker McKenna's departure in 2016, three others have served in that role, most notably attorney Penney Rector. The other two, Lisa Turner and Bill Redinger, each served for one year.

The district also spent months without a full-time HR chief between Rector's exit and Redinger's start.

In the role, Range will be responsible for hiring, onboarding, evaluating and supporting the diverse workforce of Missouri’s largest school district, which employs more than 3,500 people.

Following an internal audit of the HR department, the district is making a series of changes to overhaul the way it operates, keep records, and pays employees.

He is currently executive director of student and school services but has 25 years of experience in education, including service as a teacher, elementary principal, higher education assistant professor and central office administrator.

Hired by the district in 1997, Range started as a classroom teacher at Study Middle School. He has a bachelor's, master's and specialist degree from Missouri State University and a doctorate from the University of Arkansas.

Range's promotion and the other four leadership changes were made to align with the goals of the district strategic plan, which was approved in late 2022.

Superintendent Grenita Lathan said students, parents, employees and community members were involved in the creation of that plan.

“The plan serves as the district's Continuous School Improvement Plan. We are committed to the well-being of each student by providing high-quality academic opportunities and today’s announcement reflects support for that ongoing work," she said, in a news release.

Bruce Douglas, director of information technology, will move into an expanded role July 1 as chief informationofficer.

He will oversee a newly aligned department that includes all technology, help desk support, information security and systems − which includes software selection, implementation and training − as well as data analytics and accountability.

Douglas, part of the district since 2006, started as a help desk specialist and has been director of information technology since 2015. He has a bachelor's degree from Missouri State.

Michelle Gavel, coordinator of equity and diversity, will serve as director of student access and opportunity.

In that role, she will oversee the Department of Student Access and Opportunity which was formerly known as the Office of Equity and Diversity. This team will work closely with the Department of Family Support Services to ensure SPS students and families have the support needed to succeed.

Gavel, who ran unsuccessfully for the school board, joined the district in 2021.

Prior experience includes service in various capacities at Missouri State University, including as the assistant director of financial aid scholarships, a financial aid coordinator and counselor, and as the academic services coordinator for the Upward Bound Program. Her undergraduate and graduate work was completed at Missouri State.

Yvania Garcia-Pusateri, chief equity and diversity officer, will transition to the role of college and career access specialist this summer.

She has experience in higher education and will use that to work directly with students.

Katie Kensinger, coordinator of college and career readiness, will serve in an expanded role as the director of college and career readiness.

She will oversee the district’s continued growth of career and technical education for grades 6-12, including the development of career-technical education curriculum and oversight of dual and other college credits.

Kensinger will including overseeing the college and career access department, including a coordinator and specialists at all five SPS high schools, as well as the expansion of three additional specialists to cover middle schools. These team members help students explore a variety of college and career opportunities, including use of the Naviance tool.

Hired by the district in 2018, Kensinger taught family and consumer science in Branson, Strafford, Blue Eye and Trenton.

She completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Missouri State and specialist and doctorate degrees at Lindenwood University.

Rick Carpenter, executive director of operations for the Center district in Kansas City, will serve the same role in Springfield.

He will take the place of Travis Shaw, who was promoted to deputy superintendent of operations. In the role, he will oversee facility maintenance, nutrition services, custodial and grounds, transportation, purchasing and distribution, school police and capital construction. This work includes the projects funded by the $220 million bond issue that was approved by voters April 4.

More: SPS picks new deputy superintendent, Parkview principal; HR chief retires

Carpenter has spent five years in the Center district. Other experience was at the Labette Community College and Des Moines Area Community College. He completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Central Missouri.

The new hires and promotions will be in effect by July 1, pending approval by the school board.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS makes five leadership hires, promotions including HR chief