(KTTS News) — The Springfield School Board has agreed to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan for another year.

The Board voted 4 to 3 to extend Lathan’s contract through the end of the 2027 school year.

Press Release

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education has completed its annual evaluation of the superintendent, approving a one-year contract extension for Dr. Grenita Lathan through the end of the 2026-2027 school year. This is the third contract extension of her SPS tenure.

“The Board of Education is pleased with Dr. Lathan’s leadership and looks forward to her continued guidance of our district,” said Danielle Kincaid, president of the Board of Education. “The Board notes Dr. Lathan’s eagerness to embrace important and difficult strategic goals that highlight opportunities for SPS to improve. The administration is moving forward deliberately, with an appropriate sense of urgency, in support of that ongoing work. Over the past year, her leadership goals have focused specifically on preparing success-ready students and achieving organizational efficiency and effectiveness. We are encouraged by the progress.”

The Board of Education noted the following strengths and achievements during the evaluation period:

• Progressing toward student mastery of Missouri’s learning standards by establishing a guaranteed and viable curriculum that equips educators to teach essential grade-level standards.
• Aligning instructional strategies to support student proficiency, with Building School Improvement Plans (BSIPs) providing differentiated resources for students, staff and school sites identified as most in need of academic improvement.
• Continuing focus on fiscal responsibility, sustainability and accountability, while preparing for the sunset of pandemic-related emergency relief funds.
• Community engagement with stakeholders, including SPS University, Let’s Talk Live, and the Back to School Bash.
• Monitoring and expanding outreach strategies with SPS employees, including Gather with Grenita, the All-Staff Kickoff and Superintendent’s Solutions.
• Prioritizing and implementing the mission, vision and goals of the district with honesty, integrity and ethical practices.

“I appreciate the continued support of the Board of Education and all of Team SPS,” said Dr. Lathan. “Springfield is my home and serving all SPS stakeholders as superintendent brings me great joy and a deep sense of purpose. We will continue to dream big while delivering on our promises in the best interests of the students, staff and community we serve.”

About Dr. Grenita Lathan

Prior to joining SPS in July 2021, Dr. Lathan’s professional experience included serving in leadership roles with Houston Independent School District, Peoria Public Schools and San Diego Unified School District. Dr. Lathan has a Doctor of Philosophy in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; a Master of Science in Business Education from University of North Carolina, Greensboro; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro. Dr. Lathan remains actively involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated, which are international service organizations for women. She serves on the D.A.R.E. National Board of Directors and on the local boards of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Partnership of the Ozarks.