Dexter, Missouri - The Board of Education of the Dexter R-XI School District has voted to employ Mitchell D. Wood as the Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2015.

Mitchell has been serving as Superintendent of the Oran R-3 District since 2004. Prior to becoming Superintendent at Oran, he was a Teacher, Coach, and Activities Director from 1992-1999 and served as Jr. High/High School Principal in the same district from 1999-2004 for a total of 23 years in the Oran District. Prior to going to Oran he was a teacher and coach at Hayti from 1989-1992. 

Mr. Wood earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Arkansas State University, a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Specialist in Educational Leadership from Southeast Missouri State University and is currently working toward a Doctorate from William Woods University with an anticipated completion date in 2015.   

During his tenure as superintendent at Oran, Mr. Wood has directed their strategic planning team and planned and directed passage of a bond issue (more than 75% approval rate) that resulted in new Elementary and Jr. High buildings and a cafeteria and multi-purpose facility. He also coordinated and directed the Comprehensive School Improvement Committee. The district has consistently achieved outstanding Annual Performance Reports under his leadership.   

Mr. Wood’s other professional activities include his membership in the SEMO Superintendents Association, Missouri Association of School Administrators (Chairman, Small Schools Committee 2013-current), Scott-Miss Superintendents Association ( President 2006-2008), and  Missouri Association of School Business Officials. In addition he served on the Board of Appeals for the Missouri State High School Activities Association from 2009-2014 and the Coaches Advisory Panel from 2006-2009. Before retiring from his very successful coaching career,

Mr. Wood’s teams won numerous conference, district, and sectional championships in both basketball and baseball as well as the baseball state championship in 2013. He also was selected as MHSBCA Coach of the year in baseball in 1998 and 2013 and inducted into the MHSBCA Hall of Fame Class of 2010.

Mr. Wood has been married to his wife Shawn for 30 years and they have two children. Their son, Dr. Ryne Wood, is an optometrist in Cape Girardeau and their daughter, Mandi Wood, will graduate in December 2015 from Logan College of Chiropractic.