Springfield Public Schools

A chief equity and diversity officer for Springfield Public Schools has been announced.  Yvania Garcia-Pusateri is the current executive director of multicultural programs at Missouri State University.  She’ll begin her new job on September 9.

The hiring is part of the SPS strategic plan, which district officials say “is aligned to identify and measure progress in closing the gaps for under-resourced and under-represented students.”

Dr. Shane Dublin, executive director of secondary learning for Springfield Public Schools, said hiring someone on an interim basis to lead a school while a permanent principal is found has been done before. 

In fact, Central High School, where two retired SPS leaders will lead for the 2019-2020 school year, had an interim principal a few years ago, he said.

Judy Brunner will serve as the interim lead and Steve Seal will be interim principal while the search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Lisa Anderson is conducted.

Two veteran administrators in the Springfield Public School District will share the principal role at Central High School in an interim capacity this summer through the end of next school year.

According to SPS, Judy Brunner will serve as interim lead principal, and Stephen Seal will serve as interim principal effective July 1.  They’ll each work on a part-time basis.

Dr. Shane Dublin, executive director of secondary education for SPS, says the recruitment process for a permanent replacement for Central principal, Dr. Lisa Anderson, is ongoing.