Harrison, Arkansas administrator finalist for Joplin R-8 superintendent

An Arkansas superintendent with teaching, counseling, and administrative experience in southwest Missouri schools is in Joplin today meeting with Joplin R-8 board members about the vacant superintendent position.

A district news release issued a few moments ago named Dr. Melinda Moss, superintendent of Harrison Public Schools as one of the two finalists for the position vacated by the resignation of C. J. Huff in 2015.

Moss will tour district facilities and the community today and then will have a dinner meeting with the board tonight.

The other finalist will be announced Tuesday meeting.

Biographical information on Moss provided by the R-8 School District is printed below:

Dr. Melinda Moss is in her seventh year as superintendent of Harrison Public Schools in Harrison, AR.

 Moss served three years as assistant superintendent in the district before being named superintendent in 2010. She serves on the Arkansas Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Committee. 

Moss taught Special Education students in Republic, MO at the Green County Cooperative before serving as a guidance counselor at Spokane School District and Springfield Public School District. While at Spokane,

Moss also organized the District’s accreditation reviews, wrote a successful A+ Schools Grant, managed the District’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and the District’s curriculum alignment.

 Following her time in Springfield, Moss became middle school principal in Reeds Spring, MO She received her undergraduate degree in Finance & Banking from the University of Arkansas, her special education certification courses and master’s in Guidance & Counseling from Missouri State University, and her doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Louis University.

 Moss is active in the community serving on the Harrison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Boone County Economic Development Committee and the local Rotary Club Chapter Board of Directors. She and her husband Greg have two sons. Zach and his wife, Kaitlyn, live in Ozark, MO. David, his wife, Sarah, and grandson, Nash, live in Bentonville, Arkansas.