Principal & Administration
Southview Elementary Principal
About Dr. Ali Stewart
Dr. Ali Stewart became the next Principal of Southview Elementary School on July 1, 2026, after serving as KSD’s Director of Curriculum & Instruction.
Dr. Stewart has a 24-year proven track record of implementing innovative teaching methodologies tailored to meet individual student needs, resulting in improved academic performance and student engagement. She is also adept at fostering positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and colleagues to create a collaborative learning environment. She is committed to continuous improvement and staying abreast of the latest educational trends and best practices.
Dr. Stewart was promoted to the Director of Curriculum & Instruction position in 2023, following a two-year stint as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. She was a Reading Interventionist/Instructional Coach for KSD from 2014 to 2021. Before that, she taught first and third grade for six years in Liberty and first grade for six years in Smithville. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Education-Reading from Northwest Missouri State University, in addition to Educational Specialist in Leadership and Educational Doctorate in Leadership degrees from William Woods University.
Southview Elementary Assistant Principal
About Kirsten Lewis
Kirsten Lewis has been an assistant principal in Kearney School District since 2019. She began her career in education in 1996 as an Early Education Teacher and Assistant Director in Siloam Springs, AR. From 1998-2002, she transitioned to teaching first and second grade.
In 2002, Ms. Lewis started her career with KSD in Special Education at Hawthorne Elementary. In 2003, she accepted a position as a fifth-grade teacher in the district and transitioned to teaching second grade when Dogwood Elementary opened in 2005.
Throughout her career in Kearney, Lewis has been an outstanding leader in many ways. In 2008, she earned the role of lead teacher for Dogwood Elementary. In this position, she went through extensive training in leadership and instructional professional development and provided professional development to staff across the district. She remained in that role until 2013, when the role shifted to the title of grade-level team leader. Lewis has been the lead administrator for KSD’s elementary summer school program for many years and helped establish its outstanding reputation in the Bulldog community.
Lewis attended John Brown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree. She also holds a Master of Administration degree from William Woods University. In 2015, she was honored at the Northland Chamber Excellence in Education Banquet for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.
