The Dunklin R-5 School District has a new director of transportation.
Dunklin Board of Education members agreed in December to hire Chris Harris, 56, of Herculaneum for the position. He took over the job on Dec. 18, replacing Sue Sharp, who left the position on Oct. 25 after 14 years with the district.
Harris will be paid a $65,508.08 annual salary. Sharp was being paid $72,653.52 during her final year.
According to board documents, the director of transportation position was posted on Nov. 22, and seven candidates were interviewed during the first round of interviews. Two candidates advanced to a second interview, and Harris was unanimously selected as the top candidate.
Harris said he worked from 2004 to 2012 as the director of operations and finance for MTC Truck Driver Training and while in that job, he improved the school’s financial profile, worked extensively with the road team, helped students get their commercial driver’s licenses, created a website with the help of a specialist and made it profitable.
He then worked from 2012 to 2023 at Busey Bank, formerly known as Pulaski Bank, as a special asset administrator, and his primary focus was on contract law. He said he also has experience in logistics and creating financial profiles for post-secondary schools.
Harris said he spent the past year taking care of a family member but is now ready to join the workforce again.
He said his experience in the transportation field, financial field and post-secondary education field made him an ideal candidate for the job.
“It just so happened to be everything in my wheelhouse. Everything that I’ve done or have touched really in my whole career has kind of culminated in being able to take on this position,” he said.
Harris said he’s enjoying his new job.
“I’ve only been here a very short time, but it seems spectacular. I am just taking everything in that I possibly can every day,” he said.
Harris’s spouse, Brandy, is a longtime science teacher for the Jefferson R-7 School District, recently switching from teaching sixth grade to seventh grade. Their son, Colby, 23, a Jefferson R-7 graduate, was the recipient of Lindenwood University’s first archery scholarship and majored in psychology while studying there. He currently is continuing his education at Southeast Missouri State University and is working as a counselor for Compass Health.