Grandview R-2 School District’s Superintendent Matt Zoph will retire at the end of this school year, after 14 years in the position.
Zoph, 52, of De Soto is paid a $179,822.55 annual salary.
He began his career with the Grandview district in 2000 as a history teacher and a coach working with the football and baseball programs.
“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in several roles, including physical education teacher, librarian, technology assistant and high school principal. I’ve also coached football, basketball, baseball and weight training,” he said.
Zoph attended College of the Ozarks, Harris Stowe, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Missouri Baptist and received a bachelor’s degree in history and education; a master’s degree in educational leadership; and a specialist certification in educational leadership.
He said it has been a privilege to serve as superintendent at Grandview, adding that being a superintendent means there is never a dull moment.
“In my time, I’ve experienced everything from an embezzlement and thinking the district was almost broke to being able to make Grandview’s teachers some of the highest paid in the county,” he said. “I got to help create the largest virtual summer school in the state, and now the largest virtual school in the state.
“Through it all, I’ve been blessed to work with great people and have the most wonderful wife and kids who have put up with the craziness of the job for all these years.”
Angela Huskey, who previously worked for the school district for about 20 years and was the district’s former business manager, was sentenced in October 2017 to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay about $1.8 million in restitution after she pleaded guilty to mail fraud in connection with the embezzlement of more than $1.6 million from the district over a number of years beginning in 2006.
Per the sentencing, she was to pay $1,658,900.63 to the school district and another $155,000 to the Missouri United School Insurance Council.
Transformative learning
The Grandview district has a unique type of learning for its students. In addition to the traditional, in-class learning offered to students who live in the district, it also offers remote, virtual learning to students across the state and receives state funding for the attendance hours those students complete.
“It has allowed us to offer competitive teacher salaries, maintain small class sizes and invest in excellent facilities and resources,” Zoph said.
“When I was first tasked with launching a virtual summer school program in 2011, I never imagined it would grow to serve nearly 9,000 students each year, about 3,000 in the summer and 6,000 during the regular school year. The district manages the summer program, while we partner with Stride to operate the school-year program.”
He said supporting all those virtual students requires significant coordination, especially for the district’s central office and special education departments.
“It’s also important to help our community understand that our local, on-campus students continue to perform very well, often better than the virtual students we serve statewide,” he said.
Searching for a super
The Grandview Board of Education voted unanimously on July 17 to pay the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) $13,560 to coordinate the superintendent search. Zoph said the goal is to have the next superintendent hired by Thursday, Dec. 18.
The deadline to apply for the superintendent position closes on Sunday, Nov. 30. The starting pay ranges from $160,000 to $200,000. The new superintendent will begin work on July 1, 2026. The application may be viewed at mosba.org/page/superintendents.
Zoph said he has intentionally stayed out of the search process so the school board and community could make their decision independently.
He also said that MSBA has done an excellent job gathering input through staff and community surveys and holding town halls to understand what qualities people are looking for in the next superintendent.
“I’m confident they’ll find a leader who is the right fit for Grandview’s future,” he said.
“From what I understand, the search is progressing well, and there are some strong candidates.”
Enjoy the experience
Zoph said he is looking forward to retirement, especially spending quality time with his family.
“My wife (Tracy) and I love to travel, and our plan is to see as much of the world as possible, at least until we have grandchildren. Then I’m sure our priorities will shift,” he said.
The Zophs have two adult children, Jordyn and Mitchell.
Jason Van Houten, communications director and school board secretary for the Grandview district, said he has worked with Zoph throughout his entire time at Grandview.
“I was on the football coaching staff when he came to the district and have worked alongside him, with him and eventually for him ever since,” Van Houten said.
“From his beginnings as a social studies teacher and coach to his time as high school librarian, high school principal and ultimately superintendent, I’ve learned that you’ll never find anyone who cares more about doing what’s right for students, and he truly cares about each and every member of Eagle Nation.”
Regarding the new superintendent, Zoph said the district will seek a leader who is committed to Grandview students and the community.
“Grandview is a special place, full of exceptional people, both in the district and throughout the community. My hope is that the next superintendent enjoys the experience as much as I have and continues building on the great work happening here.”