Brent Doolin has been named the new superintendent of the Fayette school district starting next year. He was hired by the district’s Board of Education during its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 15.

Doolin will replace outgoing superintendent Jill Wiseman who announced her retirement in November. The school board held a special meeting on December 6 to officially begin its search for a new superintendent. At that meeting, the board indicated it would begin its search within the district.

Wiseman has been the superintendent for three years, with Doolin acting as assistant superintendent while also serving as principal of Clark Middle School. An email from BOE president Skip Vandelicht was sent to district staff on Thursday morning announcing the promotion.

“I believe the board made an excellent choice in selecting Mr. Doolin as the next superintendent for the school district,” Wiseman said. “In the three years as assistant superintendent, he has built positive working relationships with staff, students, and their families. I know the district will be in excellent hands as he will continue to lead with compassion and humor, all with a willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure this district meets the educational needs of our students.”

Doolin has been with the Fayette district since 2017. A native of Unionville, Missouri, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from Buena Vista University in Iowa and holds a Bachelor of Religious Studies degree from Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly. He earned Masters of Education and Education Specialist degrees from William Woods University. 

Doolin lives in Fayette with his wife, Emily, and two daughters.

Prior to becoming principal in Fayette, Doolin taught high school business while coaching in Kahoka, Missouri. He has been a principal for 15 years. The last five of those years have been at Clark Middle School, with six years at Brashear and four years in Atlanta, Missouri.

Doolin said he is humbled and honored by this opportunity. “I look forward to continuing to serve the district, now from across the street,” he said.

Three years ago the superintendent’s job was split between Wiseman and Doolin primarily for financial reasons. Wiseman continued her role as curriculum director and Doolin stayed on as CMS principal. Doolin said it doesn’t appear there will be an assistant superintendent when he takes over the job on July 1.

“The work is still there to be done,” he said. “We’ll just see if we can divide it up and still be able to do a good job serving the district.”

Doolin will enter the role of superintendent at a unique time. The district is still dealing with the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic, which has in turn left schools across the country in excellent shape financially. Government funds have flooded into districts across the nation. Fayette is using the bulk of its extra funding to significantly upgrade its HVAC system. 

“This pandemic has shown us that air quality makes a difference,” Doolin said. “A lot of that money is going to disappear as fast as it shows up when we start making these renovations. That will give us a better picture of where we truly are.”

Doolin said he expects his approach to district finances will be conservative. “We’ll make sure that we’re being careful, intelligent, and wise about what we are spending.”

Before she leaves the district, Wiseman said she intends to ask the school board for a raise in base pay for teachers. Doolin said he supports the increase. “We’re going to have to stay competitive in our salary rate and the things that we’re offering as best as we can afford.”

Teacher recruitment and retention have been constant issues at Fayette for several years. The school board in May approved a hike to the base pay to $33,000 a year, even with the Glasgow School District and above New Franklin. Voters in the district approved a property tax increase in 2019. And in November 2019 the board voted to change Fayette’s schedule to a four-day school week.

Doolin said he doesn’t expect to move back to a five-day schedule. “As of right now, I would say it’s working for us. I think it is a benefit at this point for the mental health and wellness of our teachers, and of our students.

“The number one reason teachers stay at a school is because of how they are treated on a daily basis by parents, students, co-workers…the culture and climate of that building. You can’t maintain a positive culture and climate and put your teachers into a poverty rate of salary.”

The district faced heavy teacher turnover last year, particularly in the middle school. Three of CMS’s four core teachers left after the last school year. Doolin attributed the bulk of that turnover to what he called “pandemic stress.”

“Making it from March of 2020 through May of 2021 was a grind. It was hard on a lot of people.”

During his time as assistant superintendent, one of Doolin’s roles has been the oversight of district facilities. He said that would continue to be a major focus when he takes over next school year. “Keeping facilities to where this place is a source of pride for our students, our teachers, and our community…I want to make sure we’re maintaining a safe place to be and a nice place to be.”