Kerry Sachetta announced as Joplin R-8 superintendent

Kerry Sachetta, assistant superintendent for operations for the Joplin R-8 School District, will receive a promotion July 1.

Sachetta, the longest serving administrator in the district, will become superintendent replacing Melinda Moss, who is retiring. Moss will continue with the district through September 30 to ease the transition, it was announced at tonight's R-8 Board of Education meeting.

Sachetta has served in his current capacity since 2016 overseeing the operational departments of the district including facilities, food service, transportation, technology, and safety.

Before that, he was Joplin High School principal for 14 years, helping guide the district through the trying years following the destruction of the high school building in the May 22, 2011 tornado.

Sachetta has 29 years of experience in education and has served as a teacher, coach, principal and university instructor. 

Sachetta's institutional knowledge served as an asset to Moss when she was hired in 2017 to replace Interim Superintendent Norm Ridder.

Moss was hired as superintendent in 2017, replacing Interim Superintendent Norm Ridder, who guided the district for two years following the "retirement" of C. J. Huff.