Eldon residents, teachers laud incoming Joplin superintendent w/ C.J. Huff interview audio interview and slide show

By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

ELDON, Mo. — Four years ago, the Eldon R-1 Board of Education took a risk.

Former president Greg Jarrett said the board evaluated five finalists to be the next superintendent. Four of those had long careers and experience as a superintendent.

Instead, the board chose a fresh-faced candidate with no superintendent experience. Then 34, the highest leadership experience C.J. Huff had up to that point was as an elementary principal.

But Huff’s attitude and work ethic won over the board.

“When we first hired him, we decided that we could hire someone who is finishing their career,” Jarrett said, “or we could take a little bit of risk on someone who has the potential to be the best in the state. And he’s well on his way to being there.”

Over those five years, Huff has left his impression on the school district.

Some teachers say he improved test scores and working conditions and some parents say he improved Eldon’s quality of education.

But Huff is not without his detractors, some of whom say he led with a “my-way-or-the-highway” mentality and stepped on toes to make improvements. Some accuse him of spending money irresponsibly and replacing experienced, established personnel with younger, greener candidates.

Huff, now 38, takes the reins of the Joplin R-8 School District on July 1.

Eldon’s measure

Eldon is a town of 4,895 people, nestled north of Lake of the Ozarks along U.S. Highway 54. The Eldon R-1 School District has an enrollment of 1,920 students in two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The district also offers a career center and an agricultural program that involves about one-third of the high school’s student body.

At the high school level, where sophomores take the mathematics part of the Missouri Assessment Program test, 36.5 percent ranked either “proficient” or “advanced” in Eldon, compared to 41.1 percent statewide.

Of the high school juniors, who take the communication arts part of the MAP, 30.5 percent scored “proficient” or “advanced,” compared to 41.8 percent statewide.