Welcome Dr. Collier

It’s Women’s History Month and I hope you are enjoying the flood of messages on empowerment, accomplishment, and praise for so many women in our community, and across the globe who are doing wonderful things. As we celebrate Women’s History month, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate time to welcome Dr. Jennifer Collier, Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools.

Dr. Collier has recently joined the Lead to Read KC family as the newest member of our Board of Directors. We are honored to have her leadership, experience, and passion as we begin to envision the next phase of this incredible organization.

Dr. Collier is the first woman to serve in our district’s 157-year history. Here are a few tidbits about the woman who holds the top spot in education for so many of our children.

Dr. Collier was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas and graduated from Sumner Academy. Dr. Collier holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, a Master of Arts in Education from Avila University and an Education Specialist Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She received her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from UMKC in 2018. She’s been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Chief Human Resource Officer and Deputy Superintendent.

When asked about her priorities for the district she talks about her five big Rocks. One of her most urgent academic goals is to ensure that KCPS students are proficient readers. It is a moral imperative, as competence in literacy will either serve as a gatekeeper or a passport to a promising future. The additional rocks include Mathematics, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Practices, Social Emotional Wellness and Family & Parent Engagement.

Dr. Collier has her hands full! We know she is up for the challenge, and we have her back. Welcome to Lead to Read KC Dr. Collier, we couldn’t be more honored to have you on our team.

Fun Fact: Dr. Collier’s mother was her 1st and 2nd grade teacher and later the principal of her school. She grew up grading papers and cleaning boards and was determined that teaching would not be part of her future career.

Thanks to all of you that supported Community Cocktails at J Rieger. I wished I would have had the opportunity to meet more of you, but please know that John from Whittier, Jamie from Center, Mike from Melcher and Christy from Citizens of the World represented all of you very well! We are extremely lucky and grateful to have such a dynamic group of readers partnering with us to change the world!

Terri E. Barnes
Interim Executive Director
Lead to Read KC