Merlyn Johnson: District updates and thankfulness

The first half of the 2023-2024 school year is nearing an end.

We have joined in celebrating many awesome student-centered accomplishments so far this year and are hopeful to continue more great things as we move into the Spring semester.

Two of the most exciting extracurricular accomplishments this fall included success on the softball field and golf course.

Our high school softball team pleasantly surprised everyone in Wildcat Nation and beyond with the first ever softball district championship. Our softball players and coaches demonstrated a high level of resilience and fortitude during the final weeks of the season and we are looking forward to even more success next school year.

Our golf team also displayed exceptional skills and teamwork as they achieved the first ever state qualifying team in Cassville girls’ golf history. On top of the team success, Senior Avery Chappell placed sixth overall as an individual golfer, which is an amazing accomplishment.

I am so proud of the positive attention our softball and golf teams brought to our district and community. Our other fall sports teams also represented our district and community with great pride and success. We are now preparing, with much anticipation, for our winter academics, sports, and extracurriculars.

Professionally, I continue to feel blessed to be able to work alongside so many great people in Cassville. In my third year as superintendent, I still marvel at the incredible devotion of the Cassville R-IV staff and their unique ability to teach and inspire our students.

We are fortunate to have so many great professionals employed here!

I am thankful for the support of the parents in creating an outstanding partnership for our students. Our parents allow us to be part of their children’s lives, which is an amazing honor and a tremendous privilege.

They support us in the work we do, and they share with us in the joy of their children’s education. Our parents make Cassville R-IV Schools a stronger district and I am extremely grateful for all they do.

We are thankful for the teachers, paras, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance workers, secretaries, nurses, nutrition staff, therapists, administrators, and all other support staff who really care about student achievement and who have the best interests of our students at heart. Through everyone’s efforts, our school is filled with positive, productive, and powerful learning each and every day.

We are also thankful for our community supporters, churches, retired teachers, and volunteers who enthusiastically contribute so much to our school. I continue to witness dedicated and tireless individuals going above and beyond to make sure great things happen at Cassville R-IV Schools.

Every single person truly does make a difference in the lives of our students, and those students, in their own individual ways, benefit from those efforts.

The strength of Cassville R-IV Schools lies in the people we employ and the community we serve. I am so grateful to be part of the Cassville family. The district is in a great position to continue to engage and inspire a community of learners for success in life.

Thank you for all you do, and I wish you and your family a very safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Merlyn Johnson is the superintendent of the Cassville school district. He may be reached at mjohnson@ cassville.k12.mo.us.