subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/Roger Nomer: Destry Brown is starting his first year as the new superintendent in Pittsburg, Kan.
/

Published July 24, 2009 12:35 pm - Destry Brown does some of his best administrative work in the saddle of a Yamaha motorcycle out on the open road.
“My most creative time is when I’m riding,” said the new superintendent of the Pittsburg school district. “I guess it’s my idea factory, where I do my problem solving and play through all scenarios.”


Destry rides again: New Pittsburg superintendent doesn't fit traditional mold



By Andra Bryan Stefanoni

news@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Destry Brown does some of his best administrative work in the saddle of a Yamaha motorcycle out on the open road.

“My most creative time is when I’m riding,” said the new superintendent of the Pittsburg school district. “I guess it’s my idea factory, where I do my problem solving and play through all scenarios.”

Brown last week worked his way through a stack of about 30 handwritten birthday greetings to district employees whose birthdays are in August. In the Frontenac school district, where Brown spent the past three years, such a task meant addressing just a few cards each month for the staff of about 50. In Pittsburg, the staff totals 500, which means the possibility of writer’s cramp.

“I believe in personal relationships. The bedrock of the whole district is the people, and it’s important that I value every person in it,” he said of the effort.

Assistant Superintendent Cory Gibson said Brown doesn’t fit into the standard administrative mold.

“He is not a stereotypical suit-and-tie superintendent, but much more of a laid back and ‘let’s have fun’ kind of guy,” Gibson said. “In our directors’ meetings he begins the meeting by asking each person what they have done to make someone’s day.”

Brown said his life has been enriched by the people he has met along the way. That includes young people, whom he misses getting to know in a classroom setting.

Formerly an elementary teacher, Brown started his interest in education as a 14-year-old, growing up in Fort Scott, when he volunteered to be one of the youngest Little League coaches in history.

“I guess my core values are totally about kids, and have been for most of my life,” he said.

As a high-school student, he enjoyed volunteering at Winfield Scott Elementary during what was then an open lunch hour. Eventually he student-taught there.

He’s never wanted to live anywhere but Kansas, and has what he calls a passion for the state — especially the western part with “wide open spaces and unique places.” He dreams of one day taking on a project to do something — perhaps play golf — in each county in the state.

“There’s not a better state you can live in and raise kids in,” he said.

He and his wife, Beth, have raised a son, Keaton, who at age 16 will finish out his junior and senior years in Frontenac High School. Beth coordinates the community’s Meals on Wheels program, for which Destry has served as a delivery volunteer and made several lasting friendships as a result.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER

full time, providing support and case management for children and their families. BS/BA/BSW in psychology, social
...>MORE

THERAPIST-COUNSELOR

looking for licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker for fulltime position providing par
...>MORE

COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER

fulltime, providing support and case management for adults with chronic mental illness. BS/BA/BSW in psychology, s
...>MORE

RESIDENTIAL PSYCH TECH

full time and part-time, for all shifts, to provide direct care and supervision to adolescents in residential trea
...>MORE

ATTENTION HOLIDAY HELP

$17.25 base-appointments, Full/Part time customer sales and service, no experience necessary, conditions apply, a
...>MORE

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

full time. Excellent benefits, competitive wage, shift differential, working in drug and alcohol treatment facilit
...>MORE

RESIDENT APARTMENT MANAGER

part-time, for apartment complex program designed for mentally ill adults. Duties include ordering supplies, move-
...>MORE

SERVICE COORDINATOR

excellent career opportunity! Full time positions available providing case management services assisting individua
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

CHRYSLER 1998 TOWN AND COUNTRY
$1775
loaded, front/rear heat and air. 437-4424.
...>MORE

1991 BUICK HEARSE
white, gray top, 33,048 miles, roll bed, $3900. 673-7667....>MORE

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
tilt, cruise, power windows/locks, CD and more, excellent condition, $3950. 417-540-5263....>MORE

SUBARU, 1994 IMPREZA,
great mpg, runs excellent, needs paint, $1200. 434-8591....>MORE

GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES

solid blacks, parents on premises, payment plans, ready for Christmas, $500. 417-955-0095 or 417-268-0688.
...>MORE

2005 SUZUKI TWIN PEAKS 700,
4x4, Vtwin, automatic, $5,000/offer 417-451-8860....>MORE

1994 ISUZU BOX TRUCK
with 20' box. Front bumper damage, 1 headlight broken, runs great - $2,900. 417-438-4019....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

AMERICAN BULLDOGS
males/females, pure whites, deposit will hold for Christmas. (417)622-7453, 417-483-0878...>MORE

2007 CUB CADET LT1050,
leaf bagger, 50” deck, $1150/best offer (417)451-8860....>MORE

LIKE NEW FULL SIZE HARVARD AIR HOCKEY TABLE
$180’ new white Sunbeam over thea range microwave, in box, $120. 438-4019....>MORE

NEW SPORTCRAFT TREADMILL
$190. Folds away for easy storage. Used Weslo treadmill $100 with new belt. (417) 438-4019...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

ROLAND DIGITAL PIANO
HP-1 Like new, bench $1000. 417-438-2024....>MORE

STORY & CLARK PIANO,
lots of sheet music and books, $500 or best offer. (417)649-6174, (417)438-9432...>MORE

SHIHZORKIEPOO PUPS
(2) 8 week old female Shihzorkiepoo pups. mom is Imperial Shih-Ttzu, dad is a Yorkiepoo. 1st shots and dewormer. paperwo...>MORE

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPS, AKC

Champion bloodlines. Family raised. Would make great Christmas presents. Ready to go now! $800-$1000.
417-52
...>MORE

SHIH-TZU/LHASA,
female, 6 months, all shots, $75. (417)776-8215....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition