We are pleased to announce that the Kearney School District Board of Education has approved the selection of Dr. Ali Stewart as the new principal of Southview Elementary, starting July 1, 2026. The board members’ unanimous decision was made during their business meeting last night.

Dr. Stewart is currently serving as KSD’s Director of Curriculum & Instruction. She has held this central office position since 2023, following a two-year stint as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator.

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 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.

Please join us in welcoming this dedicated and accomplished instructional and administrative leader to Southview Elementary. We look forward to supporting her and the entire Southview team as you all carry on the remarkable legacy of public education excellence established under the long and distinguished leadership of Dr. Rebecca Parks, who will be retiring at the end of the current academic year.

Kearney Junior High took the spotlight during the April 15 business meeting of Kearney School District's Board of Education at the central office. Principal John Goodin received well-earned applause as he stepped up to introduce social studies teacher Chris Daniels, who talked about the mock trial experience that KJH students recently had in Clay County Circuit Court Judge Alisha O'Hara's courtroom.

The school board took time to celebrate the recent achievements of the Kearney High School Golden Girls dance squad:

Congratulations to all of these girls, along with Head Coach Samantha Anderson and Assistant Coaches Rachel Cerra and Ava Yarc!

In a legal formality following the April 7 municipal election, the 2025-2026 Board of Education was formally dissolved and then the 2026-2027 board was gavelled in following an oath of office ceremony administered for members Jake Klingensmith, Bree Switzer and Nic Vasquez. All three filed for reelection and were unopposed, which meant that there was no board election this year. They will each serve three-year terms. Darlene Bailey was reelected by the board as President, and Mrs. Switzer was reelected as Vice President.

The April 15, 2026, school board meeting also featured a district finance update, a technology program evaluation and other important business. Agendas and supporting documents are always available on the board's Simbli portal. View a livestream of this meeting on KSD's YouTube channel.

The Kearney High School Lady Dogs Soccer team will host Blue Valley West at Bulldog Stadium, with JV beginning at 5 p.m. As part of the evening, the team is also holding a "For the Dogs" fundraiser to benefit KC Pet Project.

If you plan to attend, please consider bringing a donated item for KC Pet Project. Donated supplies will serve as your entry fee for the game. Community members may also make a monetary donation online.

The event flyer includes a full list of suggested items, including pet food, treats, leashes, collars, blankets, cleaning supplies and gift cards.

This is a great opportunity to come out and support our Lady Dogs while also helping care for animals in need. We hope to see a great crowd at Bulldog Stadium on Monday, April 20.

Enrollment is now open for Kearney School District’s 2026 Summer School, and we are excited to offer another great summer of learning opportunities for KSD students. Families can find enrollment information for students entering grades K-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 at the district’s Summer Fun page.

KSD's Summer School 2026 will run June 1-25, 2026, on Mondays through Thursdays. Elementary students will attend from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., while secondary students will attend from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Elementary summer school will be held at Dogwood Elementary for Dogwood and Kearney Elementary students, and at Kearney Junior High for Southview and Hawthorne students. Secondary summer school will be held at Kearney High School.

Elementary (K-5) student families requesting transportation should be sure to complete enrollment by April 30. Summer school transportation will not be provided for students in grades 6-12.

Additional details, including enrollment links and secondary course offerings, are available at www.ksdr1.net/summerfun.

As the Missouri legislative session gets underway, Kearney School District is launching a short Legislative Update email newsletter to help our community understand how proposals in Jefferson City could affect our community's public schools. This newsletter will include a straightforward snapshot and brief analysis of proposals, bills, and laws at the state level that may impact public education, along with contact information for our local legislators. Please visit the KSD Legislative Updates page on our website at www.ksdr1.net/legislativeupdates and complete the opt-in form if you’d like to receive these newsletters.