Please help us congratulate two district administrators on their upcoming transitions!

Shelly Toft, our district CFO, has announced her retirement effective at the end of this academic year. Under her guidance and direction, the district’s finance department has worked to improve practices, processes, procedures, and controls for the accounting of revenues and expenditures. During her tenure, she worked to consistently raise staff wages, including research and collaboration to increase stipends for coaches and sponsors. She has also routinely and strategically provided oversight on strong investment practices to maximize district revenues. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and skill in ensuring good stewardship of district funds for the benefit of our students and staff.

Dr. Jordan Dickey will transition into the position of Assistant Superintendent of Finance and assume the role of district chief financial officer on July 1, 2025. Having served as Executive Director of Student Services for Joplin Schools since 2022 and through her previous time as superintendent at Bronaugh R-VII School District, Dr. Dickey is skilled in the oversight of budgets and finances. During the remaining months of her tenure in the Student Services Department, Dr. Dickey will partner with Shelly Toft to develop a more nuanced understanding of our district's particular budgetary and financial considerations prior to Shelly's retirement. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dickey into this new position to keep Joplin Schools on track for a fiscally responsible future.

We're looking forward to a bright future thanks to Mrs. Toft's leadership as she passes the torch to Dr. Dickey! Thank you both for your commitment to Joplin's families.