2013 Choice Employers, Human Resources Professional: Kathy Whitworth

After a 34-year career in the industry, Kathy Whitworth has seen education from every angle. After spending 12 years teaching pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Whitworth began a career in administration. Perhaps most notably, Whitworth opened the first human resources department for Nixa Public Schools, Christian County’s largest employer.

Today, Whitworth serves as the district’s executive director of human resources and professional development, overseeing hiring of new teachers and training initiatives.

In the roles, she has overseen a number of changes in how teachers are hired and coached. As an example, a year after opening the department, the district made the transition from paper employment applications to a Web-based application system, which has resulted in the district receiving 2,000 applications annually.

“Our interview tool … allows us to find individuals who have an attitude of servanthood, build relationships with those around them, value the uniqueness of each student and who view obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow,” she says.

Teachers are offered professional support through a variety of initiatives, including the annual kick off and excellence fair personal development programs.

“Both are opportunities in which we recruit our own expert teachers as presenters. Administrators receive job-related personal development and training is available on a daily basis for our teachers,” she says.

Whitworth also leads the Nixa Education Foundation, which began with a $1,000 donation and has grown to more than $100,000. “Grant requests are written annually by teachers within the district and funds are given back to teachers and administrators for innovative programs,” she says.

Whitworth belongs to the Missouri Association for School Personnel Administrators and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Outside the school building, Whitworth serves on the board of directors for the Nixa Chamber of Commerce, Nixa Education Foundation, Nixa Care To Learn and Parents As Teachers.

“Every effort to move forward as district, every challenge faced and every new initiative requires a team effort. No one does it alone,” she says. “With all confidence, I can say we do it for the children we serve.”[[In-content Ad]]