The Fayette school district will welcome two new principals for the 2022-23 school year. On Wednesday, March 16, the Board of Education voted to hire Ross Dobson as the new principal of the high school. In February Abby Arnette was approved for Clark Middle School principal.

Current high school principal Patrick Tray submitted a letter of resignation at the board’s January meeting. He told this newspaper he wants to get back into the classroom and is currently seeking a teaching position in math closer to his home in Columbia. He has been the FHS principal since 2017.

In December, middle school principal Brent Doolin was promoted to Superintendent starting in the 2022-23 school year. Current Superintendent Jill Wiseman announced she would retire at the conclusion of this academic year.

Dobson is the current middle school math teacher and high school basketball coach at New Franklin. He has taught in Bunceton, Sturgeon, and New Franklin. He and his wife Kelsey have a son, Beckham. 

Dobson received his bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University, as well as master’s and specialist’s degrees from William Woods University.

Arnette was named Assistant Academic Dean for Instruction & Learning at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico in June 2021. Prior to that, she served as a middle school and high school English language arts teacher for 10 years at both Fayette and Boonville school districts. She served as an adjunct professor for education methodology at Central Methodist University. 

Arnette and her husband Adam have a five-year-old daughter and 21-month old twin boys. Mrs. Arnette received her bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University and her master’s degree from Columbia College.