August 24, 2016
Big shoes to fill Learn & Play
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Fresh flavors with friends
Community Voices
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By Odie Smith
Jennings Superintendent Dr. Art McCoy serves as crossing guard on the first day of school.
Photo courtesy Jennings School District
Art McCoy takes over as Jennings Superintendent and inherits a strong legacy of change
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School
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Pool parties and drop-in play
By Sara Hardin When Dr. Tiffany Anderson left Jennings School District at the beginning of this school year to serve in Topeka, Kansas, many were concerned about how the formally unaccredited school district would function under a new superintendent. Fortunately, it looks as though the district’s parents and students have nothing to fear under the watchful eye of Superintendent Dr. Art McCoy, who vows to continue Anderson’s efforts to help each and every one of the district’s students succeed to the best of their ability. McCoy has an impressive track record of being the youngest individual to take on each position he’s filled throughout his career. He’s been teaching since he became certified as a substitute teacher at the age of 18, and became the youngest teacher in the state of Missouri when he began teaching high school mathematics at 19 years old. He served in various leadership positions including vice principal, gifted director, executive director and assistant superintendent until becoming one of the youngest superintendents in the country while serving for the Ferguson-Florissant School District at the age of 33. Later, while in California working for the MIND Research Institute and the Center for Innovation and Education, McCoy received the fateful call from the Jennings School
Around Town
Board. “I remember the president of the board calling to ask if I was interested in being their new superintendent,” said McCoy. “Because I was born in Jennings and grew up here, I said I am always open to coming back home. I told him I would come in three days to hear from the board and the rest is history. I was pleased to be asked to take the helm.” McCoy made the trek to Jennings in March to take over as superintendent elect under Anderson’s guidance. Her presence wasn’t anything particularly new to McCoy, who has known Anderson for over a decade and shares her vision for educational excellence. During their time together, McCoy made the first leaps in continuing the essential programs that Anderson began for Jennings. “(Anderson and I) have the same mission to help all students achieve at high levels, and not just survive, but thrive in the current society,” said McCoy. “During the time I served as superintendent elect, I was able to raise about $400,000 of corporate money to add new programs for our 2016-2017 school year. I was able to hire staff as needed and continue the programs that (Anderson) started, like the SPOT Clinic, which needed extra funding to continue through the school year. I was able to
add more food pantry providers by adding the Operation Food Search grant that gave food to students during June, July and beyond to all students, every day. We fed students over the summer to continue the program which usually stops in May. I was able to provide a new Hope House parent, and we now have five children at the house. Dr. Anderson has been a champion for education in this community and beyond, and it’s a pleasure to build on her foundation. In most cases, you have to do a lot of repair work in urban and impoverished places, but right now we’re able to build.” Now that McCoy has settled into the district thanks to a seamless transition, he hopes to implement even more programs that will ensure the continuous growth of the district and the future success of its students. Under McCoy’s initiative, Jennings has become the first district in the state of Missouri to take part in the WE Schools movement, which implements service-learning and promotes workplace readiness while developing core skills in the classroom. While McCoy and the Jennings School District continue to get comfortable with one another, McCoy has filled Anderson’s spot at crosswalk duty and is feeling better than ever about being back in his hometown. See BIG SHOES page 2
Beyond the Backpack
Movie
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Is Hollywood getting more literate?
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