© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jefferson City Announces new High School Principal

Jefferson City Public Schools

Jefferson City Public School’s announced Tuesday that Robert James will be the new principal of Jefferson City High School effective July 1st, 2015.

For the past six years James worked in the Temple Independent School District in Temple, Texas leading a large, diverse population, including 2,000 students and over 200 faculty and staff.

James, a native of mid-Missouri was born in Hermann, Mo and attended Linn High School in Osage County before moving away with his family.

He served in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas and Camp Nimble, South Korea before entering the education field as a math teacher and working his way up to assistant principal and associate principal for curriculum and instruction.

Jefferson City’s new incoming superintendent, Larry Linthacum, said there is a variety of things that made James the ideal choice as the high school’s next principal.

“His track records prove that he has the ability to develop relationships with his staff and those that he works around. The ability to motivate them and work with them in a way that’s working towards a common goal,” Linthacum said.

Amy Berendzen, assistant to the superintendent for school and community relations, said that even though Linthacum is also a new hire he was very involved in the interviewing process and the selection of James as the new principal.

“We are very fortunate that he has been willing, able and available to participate in those discussions so he feels he’s had an influence and an understanding instead of just coming in with disappoint with information in an individual and their qualifications unbeknownst to him. So we feel very comfortable and confident in that transition,” Berendzen said.

Berendzen said that both Linthacum and James come to the Jefferson City School District with proven experience in education and a shared goal in the direction they would like to see the high school go in.

Though James will not officially begin his the new role as principal until July 1st he will have the opportunity to work with staff and administrators before then to re-familiarizes himself with the district and the Jefferson City community.

Related Content