Personnel changes leave vacancies in Nevada R-5 schools

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By Steve Moyer - Nevada Daily Mail

Personnel changes have put a lot on the plate of Nevada R-5 Superintendent David Stephens this summer. In May, Christie Peterson, longtime assistant superintendent retired, prompting Tyson Beshore to move to her position. That opened up the principal's job at the middle school to the assistant principal Jodie McNeley, prompting the hiring of Joe Whelan as assistant principal. Now Nevada High School Principal Bryan Thomsen has resigned to take the position of superintendent at North Callaway R-1, 20 miles east of Columbia, taking his wife Brandi -- who's the NHS softball coach -- with him.

"I would hope everyone stays put for awhile," Stephens joked. "I feel like I need a chessboard set up on my desk to keep track of all the changes."

Seriously, Stephens said that Thomsen was doing a good job at Nevada and he would continue to do a good job for North Callaway.

"He's doing a great job already and I'm sure he will continue to do so for North Callaway," Stephens said.

Thomsen said he hadn't had much time to consider the offer, having applied for the position less than two weeks ago.

"It was very quick," Thomsen said. "I actually applied for it June 12 and interviewed last week. I found out Friday and let the district know."

The decision was so quick it left Brandi with no immediate job.

"We don't have any positions open in Callaway right now, but we're only 20 miles from Columbia and 7 from Fulton, and there are several positions open. We're looking at one of those. Hopefully, we can bring her into Callaway at a later time," Thomsen said.

A position as superintendent has been a career career goal of Thomsen's.

"It's what I always looked toward when considering any job, whether it would help me achieve that." he said.

Thomsen is nearing completion of another of his goals, -- obtaining his doctorate degree. "That's an achievement I look forward to," he said.

Thomsen said he would miss Nevada, he and his family had made many friends here, but he was sure the people in his new district would be just as friendly.

Thomsen said that he'll miss the staff he has worked with and credited them for much of his success.

"The staff here have been really great," Thomsen said. "They made me look good and they'll make the next guy look good as well."

Thomsen's move leaves very little time to find a high school principal so to keep the process from being rushed the district will most likely have an interim high school principal.

"We are searching for a new principal," Stephens said. "However, because it is so late in the year we are looking at an interim appointment."

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on nevadadailymail.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

thanks for the censorship

-- Posted by redbadger on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 12:21 AM

Red Badger:

As long as the purpose of your posts are to attack people behind the curtain of an anonymous post, then you will be censored. Is your axe that your kid was suspended for drinking or drugs or kicked out of school for a discipline offense? Or did someone make fun of your hubby's ponytail?

I dont know mr thomsen or the supt very well, but this community's school system success speaks for itself. From all that I have heard it will hurt to lose the Thomsen's

-- Posted by tommydevito on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 4:08 PM

Wow you fell for it...I just simp;e wrote this to see response

-- Posted by redbadger on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 11:39 PM

PS this has been my nickname since I was a young one...Nice to see how observant you are Sir...But sad to say you got nothing in the above correct...except your to your judgement without cause...Cast the stone

-- Posted by redbadger on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 11:43 PM

lets see Tommy boy...because I don' believe as you do....you put me on welfare. your a real man....and then you attack someone that has nothing to do with this post...so that would make you a coward...and then I am hiding because I don't use my real name...but the log-in does not require you must use your REAL name...even though I have used this handle for over 20 plus year

What ya going to do send your thugs out to beat me up????? Wow, what a man that doesn't like someone exercising there amendment rights...are you a communist too...Oh yeah the welfare part is a hoot!!!! but GUESS WHAT YOU DIDN'T WIN MY MIND ABOUT THE TOPIC...I AM GLAD HE IS GOING ,,,,AND HOPE OTHERS FOLLOW..but Mrs PETERSON WAS A lose

-- Posted by redbadger on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 12:07 PM

PS TOMMY BOY THAT WOULD REDBADGER....not RED BADBER...and the pony tail is so funny...to bad a veteran of war made people like you... who hate free speech....free to vomit untruths...you lose your arguement...so you go there...couldn't find any good support to your statement...You couldn't handle it...that is were people go when they have nothing...and no my young adult not kid...maybe you own kidds...was not kicked out ...she moved out...she wanted to leave...and the is now holding a 3.85...and Varsity...on her own talent and merit....sorry...if you don't like the truth....they didn't either...but for MRS Peterson...and I knew she would blow the pop stand so to speak...she is to classy and of quality....sorry you don;t like me speaking my opinion...hey if your a Nazi you could shut me up

-- Posted by redbadger on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 12:25 PM

Nevada School District has made some huge mistakes lately in Administration. Mr Stephens would not have to worry about a "chess board" on his desk if he was looking at qualifications of the people before him. It is a shame that we have to loose the Thomsens'. Mr Thomsen was gualified for more than one job inside our district that was given to outside people. This says alot for wanting people to stay in Nevada and better themselves at their job. Instead we let them take their qualifications and go to a different district.

-- Posted by Gnat53 on Fri, Jun 26, 2009, at 4:50 PM

Why does Dr. Stevens and the Board need to spend time and money on searching for a new Principal? You already have the right person ready and qualified to fill the position. Bill Johnston is the right person to fill the position. Dr. Stevens, why don't you ask the facility members who they would recommend? We need to use the talent we already have.

-- Posted by GED on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 10:28 AM

Amen GED but the history of Dr Stephens and the Board does not show that they look within the district at qualified people that want to better themselves. They prefer to pass them up and hire someone outside the district.

-- Posted by Gnat53 on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 11:01 PM