Amanda Barr will move to a new role as Elementary Administrative Intern in the Ray-Pec School District, effective in July. The Ray-Pec School Board approved the hiring at its March 21 meeting.
Barr is currently an Elementary Instructional Coach in the Ray-Pec School District, a position she has held for three years.
Previously, she was an elementary school teacher for eight years in the Grain Valley School District, a kindergarten teacher for one year at Smithville Primary Elementary, and a kindergarten and first grade teacher for eight years in the Montgomery County R-II School District.
Barr said she is excited for the opportunity to serve as an Administrative Intern.
“I am looking forward to leading others in a positive direction and creating a meaningful impact,” she said. “I have been truly blessed to fulfill this purpose as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. As I embrace this new chapter, my passion remains committed to loving, inspiring, motivating, and empowering others to achieve their full potential!”
In commenting on Barr’s move to the administrative intern position, Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Director of Elementary Education, said “Barr has a keen understanding of sound instruction, both academically and behaviorally, and how that looks when supporting the ‘whole child.’ For the past three years as an instructional coach, she has done a strong job supporting our teachers and their students across multiple schools, and next year we look forward to her leadership as she joins our administrative team as an elementary intern.”
The District reviews student data and building needs to determine which schools are supported by an administrative intern. Decisions about which schools Barr will support are pending.
Barr earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Westminster College. She received a master’s degree in elementary administration from William Woods University in 2009. She earned her education specialist degree in school counseling and psychology, with an emphasis on mental health practice for school leaders, from the University of Missouri in 2021.
She will replace Keri Pinney, who will move to an Elementary Instructional Coach position for the 2024-2025 school year.
Barr and her husband, Chris, live in Grain Valley. They have two children, Aaron, 16, and Kayden, 11.