The Park Hill School District announced two principal appointments last week, one of whom currently serves as principal at Barry School.
Merri Beth Means
Barry School principal Dr. Merri Beth Means will return to her roots in Park Hill to serve as principal at English Landing Elementary School in July, following the retirement of principal Dr. Kerry Roe.
Starting her education career as a teacher in 1995, Means taught at Hawthorn Elementary School from 2002-2003 and then Southeast Elementary until 2011, taking on duties assisting the principal and serving as summer school principal. She received the Clay-Platte Exemplary New Principal and Outstanding Assistant Principal awards and a nomination for the Excellence in Service to Education award through the Northland Chamber.
Means received her bachelor’s degree from Missouri Western State University, her master’s degree from Webster University and her education specialist and doctoral degrees from William Woods University.
Vanna Easley, assistant principal at Graden and Union Chapel elementary schools, will serve as principal at Graden, starting with the 2020-2021 school year. Easley will start in July, following the June 30 retirement of principal Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt.
Starting her education career as a teacher in 2007, Easley started working in Park Hill in 2017 as assistant principal at Graden and Union Chapel. Easley received the Excellence in Classroom Teaching award through the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce and received a nomination for North Kansas City Schools’ Beginning Teacher of the Year award.
Easley, who is a Park Hill School District alumna, received her bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University, her master’s degree from Park University, her education specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University, and is in the process of earning her doctorate from William Woods University.
The Park Hill Board of Education heard a report on the district’s strategic plan last week from evaluation director Dr. Mike Kimbrel.
The district’s stated goals are that each student graduates from Park Hill ready for college, career and life as well as that all students should succeed regardless of background. According to the administration’s metrics, the district has seen successes in reaching these goals but still faces challenges in ensuring success for all students. The district hopes to significantly decrease its access and opportunity gap by 2023.