Cassville R-IV School District Selects Superintendent
The Cassville R-IV School District Board of Education has selected Dr. Merlyn Johnson as the next superintendent of the District. Dr. Johnson will officially begin on July 1, 2021, replacing Dr. Richard Asbill. Dr. Johnson is the superintendent of St. James School District in St. James, Missouri and has been in education 23 years.
The Board of Education invited teachers, staff, parents, and community members to provide feedback and priorities they felt were important in selecting the next superintendent. The Board reviewed and utilized the feedback in reviewing candidate qualifications, experience, and dedication to become part of the Cassville R-IV School District and our communities.
Board President Becky Henningson stated, “We value the feedback and input we received from our stakeholders and it was important to use that information as we selected the next superintendent. The Board was focused on finding a person who had demonstrated a dedication to public education, students, teachers, staff, and community. We are very excited about Dr. Johnson becoming our next superintendent.”
Dr. Johnson is a 1993 graduate of LaMonte R-IV School District. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Dr. Johnson later attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau where he earned his Masters and Specialist degrees in educational administration. In 2015, he earned his Doctor of Education in administration from Lindenwood University.
Merlyn's first teaching experience was at a maximum-security prison in Newport, Arkansas. He later taught at North Pemiscot Co R-I School District in the bootheel of Missouri. While in Southeast Missouri, Merlyn worked as a science, math, and social studies teacher at the junior high and high school levels. He also coached baseball, softball, and was a Beta Club sponsor. In 2010, Merlyn moved to Summersville where he served as the high school principal and later the district superintendent.
Merlyn is presently serving as the superintendent at St. James R-I School District in St. James. Merlyn brings 23 total years of educational experience with the last 10 as a superintendent. His wife, Amy, is currently a high school Business & Marketing teacher at St. James. Merlyn and Amy have two daughters, Alyssa, a sophomore at Missouri State University and Reagan, a second grader. Merlyn and his family are excited about relocating to Cassville and meeting the people in the community and district. He considers it an honor to have the opportunity to serve the communities that make up Cassville R-IV and to help make a difference in the lives of all students within the Cassville R-IV School District.