New leaders named at Springfield Public Schools

(From Springfield Public Schools)

Springfield Public Schools announced on Wednesday the following leadership appointments for the 2021-2022 school year, effective July 1.

Dr. Natalie Cauldwell has been named interim principal of Parkview High School. In 2019, Dr. Cauldwell retired from SPS with 31 years in public education, including six years as principal at Glendale High School. 

Prior to joining Glendale, she served as principal at Pershing, Sequiota and York; assistant principal at Weaver and Doling; and as an alternative school teacher and a K-12 assessment coordinator and curriculum specialist. 

Most recently, Dr. Cauldwell has served as the secondary administrator for Launch, the district’s virtual learning program. 

She completed her undergraduate and graduate work in education at the University of Texas at San Antonio, an education specialist degree from Missouri State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri. 

The search for Parkview’s long-term principal will resume during the 2021-2022 school year, with an announcement anticipated in the spring of 2022.

Mrs. Cara Stassel has been promoted to executive director of business services and will now serve on the district’s Executive Leadership Team. Mrs. Stassel has 12 years of experience with SPS, most recently as the district’s director of business services. Past SPS experience also includes work as an accounting and budget analyst, as well as the department’s assistant director. 

Prior to joining SPS, Mrs. Stassel worked as a fiscal and budgetary analyst with the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Jefferson City. She holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Missouri State University.

“Dr. Cauldwell and Mrs. Stassel have both made significant impacts on our district and community,” said incoming SPS superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan. “Both Natalie and Cara are widely respected and we appreciate their willingness to serve in these important capacities as we look ahead to a new school year.”