Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Jay Harris
[email protected]
Dr. Harris began his employment with Platte County School District as Executive Director of Operations in 2016, and has been in public education for 30+ years. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, Dr. Harris became Platte County R-3's 14th Superintendent of Schools.
Prior to joining the leadership team at PCR-3, Dr. Harris spent 16 years in the Raymore-Peculiar School District, serving as High School Assistant Principal and Director of Support Services, before 10 years as the Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services. He also was an Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Harrisonville High School, after starting his public education career teaching social studies, coaching multiple activities, and facilitating at-risk services in Topeka, Kansas, and Harrisonville, Missouri.
Dr. Harris grew up in a family of educators and had the privilege to watch his parents have such a positive influence in the lives of others. In awe of their life’s work, he decided he wanted to do the same.
After graduating high school from Baldwin City, Kansas, he received his Bachelor of Science in education from Baker University and later earned a master’s degree in secondary school administration, an education specialist degree in school administration/superintendency, and a doctorate of education in school district leadership.
"A growing community with strong tradition, involved parents, committed educators,
Platte County is a place to thrive and to flourish. It’s a blessing I get to work here, live here, and
contribute to the growth and progress of this amazing school community."
Assistant Superintendent - Personnel/Operations
Dr. Rob Gardner
[email protected]
Dr. Gardner began his employment with the District in 1996 as a middle school reading and science teacher at Platte City Middle School. After two years, he served as an Assistant Principal of the same building. For the next five years he served as the principal of Paxton School. In 2006-07 he moved to become principal of Rising Star Elementary and also served as the Director of K-8 Curriculum and Instruction. In the Fall of 2007, he moved to the position of Assistant Superintendent where he currently oversees the areas of personnel and operations.
Dr. Gardner holds a masters degree from Northwest Missouri State University and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He received his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Kansas in the fall of 2009. He currently serves as a board member for Missouri Association of School Personnel Administrators. He has also earned a Green Belt in Six Sigma from Johnson County Community College, Professional Human Capital Leader in Education (pHCLE) certification, and is presently pursuing his Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification.
"The level of commitment our staff, students, and parents demonstrate toward academic pursuits is outstanding. Platte County R-3 is an exemplary school district with a clear mission and the vision to do what is in the best interest of kids."
Assistant Superintendent - Academic Services/Continuous Improvement
Dr. Mike Brown
[email protected]
Dr. Mike Brown joined the Platte County School District administrative team in 2011. Dr. Brown's previous experience includes serving as a principal of Plaza Middle School in the Park Hill School District for seven years and assistant principal of Park Hill High School for five years. Dr. Brown was named the 2010 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Missouri Principals Association.
Before his administrative career, Dr. Brown was a high school social studies teacher and soccer coach in Blue Springs and the Park Hill School District. In between those experiences he was the head soccer coach for the University of Missouri-Kansas City for four years. He earned the Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year Award in 1996.
Dr. Brown received his Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Louis University and received his Education Specialist and masters degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Dr. Brown is an avid marathon runner and has completed more than 250 marathons in 40 different states since 1997. He and his wife, Megan are the parents of four children, Tyler, Kyle, Beza, and Bethi. Dr. Brown also welcomed his first grandchild in 2020, Jack.
"My mission/purpose is to motivate, inspire, and coach individuals, teams, and organizations in unlocking their leadership from within themselves and pay their learning forward. Leadership is the greatest gift you can give, as it is the gift that has the ability to keep on giving."