JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin Schools is pleased to announce Dr. Randy Oliver as the next head principal of
Joplin High School.
With more than two decades of school leadership experience, Oliver has most recently served as an
Associate Principal at Van Horn High School in Independence, MO. He previously spent time at West
Platte (MO) School District, North Kansas City (MO) Schools, Ottawa (KS) Public Schools, Atchison
(KS) Public Schools, Park Hill (MO) School District, and Missouri State Schools for Severely Disabled
Students. Since 2008, Dr. Oliver has also served in a part-time capacity with Community Access, a
non-profit organization that works to enable adults with developmental disabilities to thrive in their
communities.
Oliver was named Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year and finalist for NASSP National Assistant
Principal of the Year in 2022. He was nominated for the Culture of Excellence Award for North Kansas
City Schools in 2013; honored as the 2007 – 2008 Area 1 (Greater Kansas City Area) Middle School
Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals; and received the
Governor’s Challenge Award for “significantly closing the achievement gap with a diverse population.”
He currently serves as president of the Greater Kansas City Principals Association and is a member of
the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Having received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from William Jewell College, Oliver
went on to earn his Master of Arts and Educational Specialist degrees in Educational Administration
from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He then completed his Doctorate in Education with an
emphasis in Human Resources from the University of Kansas.
“I am very honored to have been selected by the committee, Dr. Sachetta and the Board of Education
to serve Joplin as the next high school principal,” said Dr. Oliver. “Joplin High School has a proud
history of educational excellence as well as many exciting current initiatives. No doubt, the future for
Joplin High School is very bright! I am anxious to meet the students, faculty, parents, and community
and begin our work together on the path of continuous improvement.”
As principal at Joplin High School, Oliver succeeds Dr. Stephen Gilbreth, who will retire at the end of
the 2022-23 school year.
“We are excited about Dr. Oliver’s appointment to be the next principal at Joplin High School,” said
Joplin Schools superintendent Dr. Kerry Sachetta. “His experiences at large high schools have
prepared him with the skills necessary to work with our fine staff to continue to improve services for
students. In addition, his work with school improvement in different settings make him an ideal
candidate. Dr. Oliver has worked with secondary students of all ages, so he understands their
challenges and what it takes for success.”