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Dec. 18, 2024St. Joseph, Mo. | By: Jeremy Werner
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Four finalists for the next superintendent of the St. Joseph School District have met with the Board of Education.
Two candidates come from within the district: Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services, Ashly McGinnis, and Director of Secondary Education, Lara Gilpin.
The external candidates include Laura Nelson, superintendent of the School of the Osage, and Jami Jo Thompson, superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools in Nebraska.
McGinnis emphasized her deep ties to St. Joseph and her commitment to continuing the district’s Vision Forward long-range plan.
Thompson, the only out-of-state candidate, highlighted her 11 years of superintendent experience and success leading strategic planning initiatives.
Gilpin pointed to her 32 years in the district and her role on the superintendent’s cabinet, saying it has prepared her to lead with a comprehensive understanding of district operations.
Nelson, a St. Joseph native with ties to the community, expressed her eagerness to bring her leadership back home after serving five years as a superintendent.
The Board of Education is tasked with choosing a successor for Superintendent Gabe Edgar, who will retire at the end of the school year to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Edgar has served as superintendent since 2022.