Knob Noster Public Schools is pleased to announce that Mrs. Leslie Brown has been selected to serve as principal of Knob Noster High School. She will fill the position following the retirement of Mrs. Connie Morris at the end of the current academic year.
Mrs. Brown graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1999, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in 2007, and a Specialist Degree in Leadership in 2018, all from the University of Central Missouri. Mrs. Brown currently serves as the Director of Reese Education Center in the Warrensburg School District, which houses the countywide alternative school, the countywide Out of School Suspension Program, and the Parents as Teachers Program. Prior to her nine years leading Reese, Mrs. Brown served as a special education teacher in the Warrensburg School District. In addition to teaching, she has coached middle school volleyball, high school cheerleading, and high school track.
Along with her experience serving as a teacher and administrator, Mrs. Brown has proven to be an expert in the area of school climate and culture. Mrs. Brown is a distinguished state and national level speaker in the areas of Compassion Fatigue, Trauma Informed Schools, Restorative Justice, and uniting teams around success for all students. Educationally, Mrs. Brown brings a wealth of experience in curriculum design and instructional leadership to serve the faculty and students of Knob Noster High School. She offers extensive participative leadership skills through her experiences with the Professional Learning Communities school improvement process. She is also passionate about character education and student leadership, which are essential components of the Knob Noster Public Schools mission.
As the Director of the Reese Education Center, Mrs. Brown earned several distinct recognitions including Regional Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) Principal of the Year in 2019 and Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals Association (MOASSP) Regional Principal of the Year in 2020.
When asked to serve as Knob Noster High School principal Mrs. Brown stated, “I am excited to have the opportunity to invest in the Knob Noster and Whiteman Community! I am passionate about serving families and building meaningful relationships as we educate and cheer on the children of our community to new levels of success. I believe strongly that every student deserves to be seen, to be heard, to be known, and to feel valued!”
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jerrod Wheeler shared, “Altogether, the comprehensive mindset and skillset offered by Mrs. Brown aligns congruently across many of the current priorities, programs, and initiatives of Knob Noster High School, which made her an ideal candidate for this position. Our committee, which consisted of teachers, support staff, administrators, and Board Members, was thoroughly impressed by the leadership experience, energy and passion embodied by Mrs. Brown. We look forward to what’s next for the high-performing and award-winning KNHS that has been established in recent years.”
Mrs. Brown and her husband, Doug, have five children: Dakota, Whitney, Dayton, Liberty, and Lyndon. Mrs. Brown will begin transitioning into the principal role at the end of the school year and will officially take over as principal of Knob Noster High School on July 1, 2021. Details on a staff, student and community meet and greet as well as details for a retirement celebration for outgoing principal, Mrs. Connie Morris, will be communicated in the future.