Dr. Drew White will serve as Platte County School District’s Deputy Superintendent and will officially begin serving in this capacity on July 1, 2023. The District is restructuring leadership following the retirement announcements of Assistant Superintendents Dr. Rob Gardner and Dr. Mike Brown. Both will retire following this school year, after serving PCR-3 for 27 and 12 years, respectively.
Dr. White started his career in the Blue Springs School District as a teacher at the Blue Springs Freshman Center and a football coach at Blue Springs High School. Dr. White then moved to the North Kansas City School District in 2015 as the AVID Coordinator at Staley High School. He started his career in administration as the assistant principal for Winnetonka High School where he led building-wide professional development, the safety and security team, and various efforts for student achievement. In 2019, Dr. White became the associate principal for North Kansas City High School, serving in this capacity for a one-year transition before assuming his current role as building principal. He has led his staff, students, and community through the implementation of school-wide college and career pathways, to higher student achievement and graduation rates, and in the development and execution of his building’s strategic improvement plan.
Dr. White earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from William Jewell College, and continued his education by earning a Master of Education from the University of Missouri, and an education specialist degree from William Woods University. In 2018, Dr. White graduated from William Woods with his Doctorate of Education in educational leadership. Dr. White is a passionate educator who works tirelessly with students, staff, and community members to ensure all students succeed at the highest level. He is extremely excited to serve in Platte County as Deputy Superintendent and will work to provide our students with the highest quality education possible, preparing them for success both in and out of the classroom. He is committed to working with our dedicated staff and community to achieve great things and continue to uphold the standard of excellence for which Platte County Schools are known. Dr. White is originally from Harrisonville, Missouri, and he grew up in a family of educators. His father was a teacher who later served as a Superintendent. His mother was an elementary school teacher for 28 years including ten years in the Platte County School District. His wife, Callie, is currently a kindergarten teacher in the North Kansas City School District, and together, they have three children, Quinn (6), Ella (4), and Cara (1). Dr. White and his family are very much looking forward to becoming a part of the Platte County community.
Ashley Jones will serve as the District’s Executive Director of Human Resources starting with the 2023-24 school year. Mrs. Jones brings nearly 10 years of leadership experience in the area of human resources, currently serving as the Director of Talent Acquisition for Metropolitan Community College, and previously serving as the Director of Human Resources in the Smithville, Joplin, and Carthage R-9 school districts. Ashley also worked eight years at the Public School and Education Employees Retirement System of Missouri. She earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from William Woods University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Central Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri. She is certified as a human resources professional by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP) and HR Certification Institute, Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Ashley and her family reside in Kansas City, Missouri. She shares, “I am honored for the opportunity to partner with all stakeholders to continuously improve and to develop and implement effective and innovative Human Resources strategies to support the District's current and future needs. Go Pirates!”
Mindy Wheeler will serve as the assistant principal of Barry Elementary starting with the 2023-24 school year when the school is converted to the District’s fourth K-5 elementary school. Mrs. Wheeler is in her 12th year in education and 4th in the Platte County School District. Previously she has worked as a middle school teacher, K-8 instructional coach, and is currently serving as Pathfinder’s Instructional Coach. She received a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Truman State University, Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Central Missouri, and her education specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. She is currently working on her dissertation with plans to graduate with her doctorate in educational leadership from William Woods University this spring. Mrs. Wheeler’s mission is to support the growth of all learners through visionary leadership, collaboration, and a fearless pursuit of excellence. She describes herself as a life-long learner and hopes to share that passion with students and staff. She is most proud of the curriculum development work she has done with the District, as well as the creation of the instructional coaching program. Mrs. Wheeler lives in Kansas City with her two boys, Tave and Everett, and husband, James. She shares, “I am excited to grow within the Platte County School District, and I look forward to working with students, staff, and families in a new capacity!”
Kacie Ambrose will serve as the principal of Barry Elementary starting with the 2023-24 school year when the school is converted to the District’s fourth K-5 elementary school. Mrs. Ambrose has 18 years in education as an elementary teacher, director of early childhood, elementary and middle school assistant principal, and most recently as principal at Lewis Elementary in the Excelsior Springs School District. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from Columbia College, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Graceland University, her master’s degree in school administration from the University of Central Missouri, and her education specialist degree from William Woods University.
Mrs. Ambrose is a life-long learner and prides herself in serving as an instructional leader for her building team and partnering with students and families to build positive relationships necessary for student success. Kacie resides in the Platte County School District with her husband and children. She has a daughter who attends Barry School, a son and step-son who both attend Platte County High School, loves the beach and spending time with her family and friends. She also thoroughly enjoys a competitive game of 4-square with her kids! Mrs. Ambrose is excited to start this new chapter as a Platte County Pirate and looks forward to meeting the students and families of Barry Elementary!