PIKE COUNTY R-III SUPERINTENDENT TODD SMITH RETIRES; INTERIM LEADERS NAMED

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. — The Pike County R-III Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Todd Smith as he enters retirement, setting up a leadership transition for the Clopton school district. The board took the action Tuesday, September 29, and said it wishes Smith well in retirement.

Beginning Thursday, October 1, Clopton Elementary Principal Dr. Stephanie Grimes will serve as interim superintendent. Breanne Clawson will move into the role of interim elementary principal while Grimes oversees district operations. The district says a search for its next permanent superintendent will begin in the coming weeks.

Pike County R-III is the public school district commonly known as Clopton Schools and is based at 28176 Highway WW near Clarksville. The district serves students in eastern Pike County, Missouri, including the Clarksville, Eolia and Annada areas, and operates the Clopton school campus for students from elementary through high school. Clopton High School competes as the Clopton Hawks and is one of the principal public-school anchors for that part of the county.

The leadership change comes as the district prepares to move forward with its superintendent search while keeping day-to-day school operations under experienced administrators already working within the system. The district has not yet announced a timetable for selecting Smith’s permanent successor, but says the search process will begin soon.