SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Dr. Gordon Pace, superintendent of the Ozark Public School District, will join the faculty of Evangel University upon his retirement this summer. He will serve as coordinator of Evangel’s Educational Leadership master’s program.
Pace has served as the Ozark superintendent since 2005. During that time, he received national recognition for his efforts to move the district ahead in curriculum and instructional technology.
For the past several years, he has also been teaching a night class in the master’s program at Evangel.
“I’ve enjoyed teaching in the Educational Leadership program at EU,” said Pace. “I like that it combines a master’s degree with principal certification. It is a well-structured program that prepares graduates for educational leadership positions at the school, district, state and national levels.”
According to Pace, the program is also flexible. “The unique design allows students to work on their master’s degree at times and places convenient for them, while maintaining full-time employment.”
“That’s a major attraction,” said Dr. Matt Stringer, assistant chair for graduate studies in education. “This is a hybrid program with online classes and one weeklong seminar each summer. Students can complete their degree in anywhere from two to five years. Their coursework is applicable to their efforts to become a principal, as well as other leadership positions in an educational setting.”
Returning to his Evangel roots
Pace says he will feel right at home teaching at Evangel. He has served as an adjunct there for several years, but his roots run deeper than that.
Gordon graduated from Evangel with a B.S. in biology in 1978. As a student, he ran cross-country, was active in campus ministries, and met his wife, Jeannine (Carr), who opened his eyes to a career in education. Their two children, Jennifer and Suzanne, are also Evangel alumnae; and his brother, Cameron, is chair of Evangel’s Department of Communication.
Pace began serving as the superintendent of Ozark Public Schools in 2005. Prior to that, he served as superintendent of Reeds Spring School District. He was a member of the administrative team for Springfield Public Schools, and he served as president of Missouri Association of School Administrators Southwest Region.
Pace earned his Master of Arts from Western Michigan University and his Doctor of Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“Jeannine and I ended up returning to Southwest Missouri, after several years in Michigan, mostly due to the great experience we both had at Evangel in our undergraduate years,” Pace said.
For more information on Evangel’s five master’s of education degrees, call Dr. Matt Stringer at (417) 865-2811, ext. 8563, or visit www.evangel.edu
Evangel University is a private, Christian university of arts, sciences and professions, and has more than 2,000 students enrolled from all 50 states and abroad. Evangel currently offers more than 100 undergraduate academic programs and nine master’s programs in education, school counseling, music, organizational leadership and psychology.