Lindbergh District excited about Simpson

The Lindbergh School District in St. Louis County is excited about its new superintendent, Dr. Jim Simpson, whose superintendent duties for the Joplin R-8 School District will conclude June 30, one day before he starts at Lindbergh.
The following article was placed on the school district's website:

The Lindbergh School District Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Jim Simpson has been hired as Superintendent for the 2008-09 school year. The Board hired Ray and Associates, who helped conduct the year-long search for a new superintendent. Dr. Simpson was appointed following interviews and site visits by the Board. He is currently Superintendent of Schools at Joplin R-8 School District, a position he has held for seven years.

“We are thrilled to fill the superintendent’s post with a person of Dr. Simpson’s caliber,” stated Board President Mark Rudoff. “We were favorably impressed with all the candidates we considered, and very impressed with those we interviewed. Dr. Simpson’s level of accomplishments and educational achievements made him the perfect candidate for the job.”

Dr. Simpson received his B.S. degree from Tennessee Technological University and had eight years of business experience as a minerals exploration geologist before receiving his teacher certification from Southeast Missouri State University. He received his MA from Southeast Missouri State, and his doctorate from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

During his 19 years in education, Dr. Simpson served as a junior/senior high school principal in Advance School District, as a senior high school principal in Salem, Mo. and Lebanon, Mo., and as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Lebanon.

“The Board is excited about the candidate we selected,” Rudoff said. “We are looking forward to a smooth transition; and are anxious to get Dr. Simpson on board and have him meet the members of the Lindbergh community.”

Parents, staff, students and residents are invited to attend a reception on Sunday, Feb. 24, to meet the new superintendent. The reception for Dr. Simpson will be held in the District Auditorium lobby, 4900 S. Lindbergh Blvd. (on the Lindbergh High School campus), from 2-4 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Rudoff also expressed his gratitude to “the Joplin Board for their hospitality and kindness during our site visit, and their willingness to let Dr. Simpson move on to Lindbergh School District. We learned that Dr. Simpson’s fiddle playing is a real highlight for students and staff at Joplin, and that he has served as kindergarten teacher for a day. We were favorably impressed by everything we heard from every corner of the Joplin District, and all those we interviewed on site.”

As Superintendent in Joplin, Dr. Simpson oversees 7,585 students and 1,144 staff members on 18 school campuses. Joplin schools have an annual budget of $65 million.

Dr. Simpson married his high school sweetheart, and he and his wife, Carol Ann, are excited about making the move to Lindbergh.

Dr. Simpson will assume his duties as Superintendent on July 1, 2008. He will replace Dr. Jim Sandfort who is retiring after serving as Superintendent for 17 years.