Cargile leaves Hickman Mills to head Center School District

Hickman Mills Superintendent Cargile to fill role as Superintendent at Center School District 

The Center School District Board of Education has selected Dr. Yolanda Cargile to be the Superintendent of Schools beginning July 1, 2020. Cargile announced her resignation from her role as Superintendent at Hickman Mills School District last week.

After the Center Board released Dr. Sharon Nibbelink last year, the Board directed a five-month search process that began with soliciting community feedback about the needs and priorities of the school district and the qualifications and characteristics stakeholders wanted in their next leader.

Dr. Cargile was selected from a field of more than 20 applicants from seven states including Washington D.C. and Canada.

School Board President Rebecca Lahann noted, “Four of our six semi-finalists were currently sitting superintendents and had excellent qualifications.  However, Dr. Cargile’s thorough preparations and deep knowledge of our district, her collaborative leadership style, her ability to navigate significant challenges, and her active presence and visibility in schools and classrooms clearly were distinguishing differences. We are confident that her leadership will serve our school community exceptionally well and will make a powerful, positive difference to all of our children.”

In the Center’s statement,  Cargile said, “I am extremely grateful and honored the Center Board of Education selected me to serve as Superintendent beginning the 2020-21 school year. I look forward to working together to effectively serve children and families in the Center community. I am eager to learn the Center way and immerse myself in this unique organization and community. I join the district fully aware of the accomplishments of staff, teachers, administrators and the support of the Board of Education. I look forward to experiencing many more successes as a team in the years to come.”

Cargileis a Missouri native and graduated from Ruskin High School in the Hickman Mills School District. Over her tenure, Cargile has served as a social worker, tutor and mentor, middle school teacher, building principal, district level administrator and adjunct instructor.

Cargile taught in Milwaukee Public Schools for nine years and was a principal for two years before becoming Director of Student Services in Janesville, Wisconsin. She expanded services to at-risk students, led professional development initiatives for racial equity and steered her “Platinum Plan” to help struggling underserved students reach their full potential.

Cargile joined the HMC-1 district in 2015 as executive director of student services, later promoted to associate superintendent and was named Superintendent in 2017.  In 2018, she was awarded the Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Missouri After School Network and in 2019 recognized by the Missouri Association of School Administrators for outstanding performance as a new superintendent.

During her time as Superintendent, Cargile collaboratively worked with the Board of Education and district leaders to stabilize district spending while also enhancing programs for students Pre K through twelfth grade in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math) and Project Based Learning.

Cargile pursued further education after receiving her doctorate including the AASA Urban Superintendent’s Academy, the Educational Policy Fellowship Program, and Kauffman Leadership Initiative. In every leadership position,  Cargile has fostered relationships based on a shared passion for serving students.