Ozarks Profile

Dr. Arnold Greve announced Oct. 21 that he would be leaving the Springfield Public Schools June 30, 1999, to accept a full-time teaching position with Evangel University.

Superintendent, Springfield Public Schools, 940 N. Jefferson. The public school district in Springfield, organized in 1867, has grown to an area of 138 square miles, including most of the city of Springfield and a large part of Greene County surrounding the city. The school district includes five high schools, one alternative school, six middle schools, six combination elementary/middle schools and 36 elementary schools. The first class was held in the public schools of Springfield on Sept. 9, 1867 for fewer than 350 students in rented space until the first building, Central School, was opened in 1871. The district has grown to an enrollment of more than 24,000 students and strives to meet the educational needs of all children, Greve said. Greve belongs to the American Association of School Administrators, the Missouri Association of School Administrators, the Southwest Missouri Administrators Association, the National School Boards Association, the Missouri School Boards Association and the Urban Superintendent Association of America. His community involvement includes membership in the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, the Community Task Force on Welfare Reform, the executive committee of the Regional Technical Education Council and the Good Community Committee, and he serves on the boards of directors for United Way, Ozarks Fighting Back, Child Advocacy Council and Safety Council of the Ozarks.

Age: 55.

No. of years in Springfield/area: 36.

Education: Post-doctorate studies at the Instructional Leaders Institute at Vanderbilt University, 1987; Ed.D. from University of Missouri-Columbia, 1984; educational specialist in secondary school administration and supervision from Central Missouri State University, 1971; master's in guidance and counseling, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1968; bachelor's in social studies from Evangel College, 1966.

Early career: Began his career at Parkview High School as a social studies teacher. Greve had completed his student teaching at Parkview, under department chair Neal Grubaugh, in the social studies department. "I felt very fortunate, as an opening occurred in that department the year after I had completed my student teaching, to be selected for that position," Greve said. Once Greve completed his master's in guidance and counseling, he began an eight-year career in counseling which started at Reed Junior High School and concluded at Kickapoo High School. Some of his mentors in his early experience encouraged him to go into administration work, and he began work on a specialist degree in Warrensburg, the closest university to offer such a degree at the time. "A few of us would drive up to Warrensburg one night a week and take courses and drive back to our homes, arriving back well after midnight," Greve said. His first administrative assignment was as assistant principal at Parkview. "It was a wonderful opportunity for me to get my feet wet in high school administration and have the opportunity to work with some outstanding colleagues to help guide me along the way," Greve said. When the original principal of Kickapoo, Curtis Wilkerson, retired in 1980, Greve was named principal of Kickapoo High School. He was principal there 1980-1987. "I can honestly look back at those years as Kickapoo principal and realize that some of my most important growing experiences and personal fulfillment occurred during that period of time," Greve said. In 1987, he became assistant superintendent for secondary education, and through several modifications, he has basically been the superintendent or educational leader of the district since 1995.

Current projects: The goals for the district: develop and begin to implement dropout reduction plan; develop and implement comprehensive communication plan; implement zero-based budgeting; improve budget reporting; and review bond and levy feasibility.

Management philosophy: "What all of us have to recognize is that if we are not a classroom teacher, all of our efforts have to be aimed at making it possible for the classroom teacher to be as effective as they possibly can be," Greve said.

Spare-time pursuits: He spends time with his family on Table Rock Lake and enjoys "all too infrequent opportunities for golfing and traveling."

Family data: Has been married to Betty, elementary librarian, for 33 years. Their daughter, Jill, is a math teacher, and their son, Kent, is a sales representative.[[In-content Ad]]