Superintendent Dr. Clemens to Retire

  • Published January 24, 2023

    After what will be 8 years at the helm of North Kansas City Schools, Superintendent Dr. Dan Clemens is set to retire from the district at the close of this year. Dr. Clemens is a visionary and relentless champion for all students. He leaves behind an indelible mark on the district. He continues in his position into the 2023- 2024 school year, retiring in December of 2023.

    Dr. Clemens has been with NKC Schools for 23 years. In that time, he has served as a principal at three schools and as a district administrator. Dr. Clemens was named 2009-10 Missouri Middle School Principal of the Year while at Eastgate. Dr Clemens says having worked in the district of 21,000+ students is something in which he takes great pride. “Being part of the NKC Schools family is something I love and will always cherish. Education has been my life for so long now and I can’t think of a more important calling. We are shaping the future with each graduating class.”

    Under Dr. Clemens’ leadership, NKC Schools has grown exponentially and is now the second largest district in the state. The district has experienced an increase in student success with higher graduation rates. The district is the recipient of numerous awards for its outstanding education and innovative programs.

    Numerous accomplishments during Dr. Clemens’ tenure include:

    • Construction of six new school buildings with two more elementary schools underway and the renovation of dozens more.
    • Bringing all early education programs to a centralized location. His innovative approach led to the acquisition of two big box stores and transformation of those buildings into the award-winning Early Education Center.
    • Establishing the College & Career Pathways program which ensures students graduate with life-ready skills, whether they enter the job force immediately or pursue higher education.
    • Pioneering efforts to impact summer learning loss, opening Missouri’s only extended-year elementary schools at Crestview and Winnwood.
    • Developing straight feeder patterns for each of the four high schools. In addition to instilling great pride and connection between elementary, sixth grade centers, middle schools and associated high schools, this move provided greater clarity and less confusion for patrons.


    Dr. Clemens is also proud of how the staff and students demonstrated resiliency through the pandemic. “Our entire staff responded with a strong commitment to addressing our students’ needs. Their dedication to creating new teaching models and adapting to change on a daily basis was amazing, and I will be forever grateful to them and our Board.”

    NKC Schools’ Board of Education shared an announcement regarding transition on January 31; read more here.