PRESS RELEASE
CRAWFORD COUNTY R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT
FEBRUARY 6, 2023
MR. COLE BYASSEE NAMED SUPERINTENDENT OF CRAWFORD COUNTY R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Crawford County R-1 Board of Education is excited to announce that Mr. Cole Byassee has been selected to serve as Bourbon’s next Superintendent of Schools beginning July 1, 2023. Mr. Byassee looks forward to meeting with the district’s administrative team and staff in the coming weeks and to working closely with the current Superintendent, Dr. Kyle Gibbs, over the next four months in order to ensure a smooth transition into his new role.
The School Board began the process of seeking the district’s next Superintendent, in coordination with the services of the Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE), following the announcement that Dr. Gibbs had been selected to be the next Superintendent for the Farmington R-7 School District at the end of the 2022/2023 school year. The School Board evaluated more than a dozen highly qualified applicants and performed interviews with select candidates before appointing Mr. Byassee to be Dr. Gibbs’ successor.
Mr. Byassee is currently serving his third year as Assistant Superintendent for the East Prairie R-2 school district in East Prairie, MO. Prior to his role as Assistant Superintendent, he served four years as Principal of East Prairie Elementary, one year as Assistant Middle School Principal in the Charleston R-1 School District, and nine years as a Science Teacher with East Prairie Middle & High Schools.
Cole and his wife, Kristin, also an educator, have three children, including a fifth grader, a high school senior, and a college senior. He is active in church and enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching his children participate in sports and extracurricular activities.
Mr. Byassee shared, “I greatly appreciate the Crawford County R-I Board of Education giving me the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of Schools in such a great district. I am looking forward to working with our staff, administrative team, and school community to ensure the continuing success of our students.” We are thrilled to have Mr. Byassee and his family joining our community. Go Warhawks!