SPS announces planned exit of deputy superintendent

Travis Shaw, a deputy superintendent at Springfield Public Schools who was placed on paid leave for nearly two months this year, is scheduled to exit the district in 2026.

District officials said in a news release this week that Shaw would retire from his role as deputy superintendent of operations at SPS on June 30, 2026.

“Dr. Shaw’s expertise and steady guidance in managing major operations and construction projects have positioned our district for long-term success," said Grenita Lathan, superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, in the release. "We appreciate his service and wish him well as he retires."

Allegations levied
Shaw was on paid leave April 30-June 23, and when he returned, a district spokesperson declined to give a reason for the temporary absence, noting "personnel matters are confidential." 

The Springfield News-Leader in July reported that a female employee at SPS had filed a sexual misconduct complaint to the district against Shaw and a discrimination complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights upon learning he would return to the district from his period of paid leave. The female employee, who was not named in the News-Leader report, alleged in comments to the publication that Shaw touched her inappropriately at a work-related gathering in another city. 

In response to a request for comment about the allegations in the News-Leader article, Neale & Newman LLP attorney Nate Dunville sent a statement to Springfield Business Journal in July on behalf of Shaw.

“Dr. Shaw unequivocally denies all allegations of wrongdoing," the statement reads. "In accordance with school board policy, Dr. Shaw was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation conducted by a neutral third party into alleged violations of school board policy AC. Dr. Shaw cooperated fully and after a thorough investigation lasting more than a month, the allegations of violations of board policy AC were found to be unsubstantiated. At the conclusion of the investigation, Dr. Shaw returned to work in his role as deputy superintendent.”

Policy AC is defined in the SPS board's policy manual as "prohibition against illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation." 

SBJ additionally sought confirmation that a complaint had been filed with the Missouri Human Rights Commission, but state officials cited state law in noting that they could not confirm or deny such a complaint – nor could they release any documentation.

Following the News-Leader report, SPS detailed how employee grievances are handled in a statement on its website. The statement does not name Shaw but references a request for information it filled on July 17.

“Springfield Public Schools takes employee grievances seriously and acts promptly to support employees and to address their concerns," the statement reads. "When a situation involves both personnel and legal matters, the district is not in a position to discuss specific details or to answer specific questions. In this circumstance, however, we can affirm that the district responded immediately, took appropriate action, provided and continues to provide supports, and followed the procedures set forth in board policies ACA, AC, GBCB and GBM. We can further affirm that the district remains committed to supporting all employees and to providing a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation.”

Those additional policy codes are defined in the board policy manual as sexual harassment under Title IX for ACA; staff conduct for GBCB; and staff grievances for GBM.

Education career
According to the retirement announcement, Shaw has had an education career spanning nearly three decades, including nine years at SPS.

Shaw was appointed as deputy superintendent of operations in 2023, and he served as executive director of operations before that. His career also includes working as superintendent for Aurora R-VIII School District and Crane R-III School District, and he was a middle school math teacher and sports coach before getting into administrative roles.

The SPS release credits Shaw with overseeing the management of more than $388 million in bond projects. The deputy superintendent of operations oversees financial and business services, transportation, facilities and construction, and human resources, among other areas.

"Serving on behalf of the students and staff at Springfield Public Schools has been an honor, and I appreciate Dr. Lathan, the board of education and my colleagues," Shaw said in the release. "I look forward to watching how SPS continues to grow and succeed in the years ahead."

SBJ previously reported Shaw's salary as deputy superintendent of operations at $204,237.