Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO

Happy National HR Professionals Day, .💙 Join us in celebrating the SPS Human Resources experts who help us succeed.

“My journey into Human Resources wasn’t a straight line. I started college with a wide range of interests — exploring everything from criminal justice to psychology. Everything changed in my senior year when I took a part-time job as a receptionist for a company that helped individuals recovering from traumatic injuries return to work. Watching our clients face immense challenges every day with resilience and determination completely shifted my perspective. I realized I wanted to be in an environment where the daily goal was helping people thrive. I changed my major to sociology which added a bit more time to my college journey, but turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. After graduating, I took a role managing a team that provided daily living care for adults with developmental disabilities. I learned that the best way to care for the people an organization serves is to take great care of the team serving them. That realization naturally drew me into HR.

Throughout my career, I’ve often fought the misconception that HR is only here to enforce rules or handle the hard stuff. While mitigating risk and maintaining policy are essential parts of what we do, our primary mission is to provide meaningful support and take care of our people. That support takes many forms—from guiding someone through a position change to celebrating a personal or professional milestone. The HR team at Springfield Public Schools cares deeply about every individual here. We laugh, celebrate, and sometimes even cry alongside them. At the end of the day, nothing brings us more joy than watching our employees and their families thrive.

As a parent of two children who have attended SPS since kindergarten — my son graduated from Glendale in 2024 and my daughter is now in her senior year — our family has personally experienced the incredible impact of this district. When an HR opportunity opened at SPS, applying was an easy choice. SPS embodies what matters most to me: a deep commitment to our community, strong organizational leadership and a genuine dedication to its workforce. This district recognizes that its employees directly impact the future of our city, state and country. Over the past five years, I’ve seen firsthand how SPS continually strives to give its team the support they need to succeed. I am thankful and proud to be a small part of team SPS!”

- Melissa Mooney, SPS human resources employment coordinator

Join !💙📞👮 We are now hiring School Police Communications Dispatchers. Apply at www.sps.org/jobs to help keep students safe by answering calls and working with the school police to protect Missouri's District of Choice.

🗺️🏃🧭 The world is waiting for the nearly 400 students from Academy of Exploration, AgAcademy, The Academy of Fine and Performing Arts - SPS and Health Sciences Academy at Mercy who connected for the Choice Amazing Race in Nathanael Greene Park on Friday. Students from these four programs formed 49 collaborative teams and used their knowledge of maps, coordinates and communication to complete the scavenger hunt challenge together. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4rvEzbz.

Your voice matters! Dr. Lathan is hosting multiple Superintendent Solutions events that invite open conversations focused on our community. Students, teachers and families from every school and area of Springfield are welcome to come talk about what’s working well, highlight areas for growth and help shape the district's priorities.

Hosted at our five traditional high schools, you are encouraged to attend the event at the building your school feeds into:
🔵 Hillcrest area — Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m.
🔵 Kickapoo area — Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m.
🔵 Parkview area — Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m.
🔵 Glendale area — Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m.
🔵 Central area — Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m.
Not sure what area your school is in? Check our feeder patterns online at https://bit.ly/4rs5aGp. Study Alternative Center families are welcome to attend the event at Parkview.

RSVP at sps.org/solutions to let us know you're coming and give us an idea of what you want to talk about.

Parkview students Lila Cook and James Deskins led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Board of Education meeting last night.🇺🇸 They were recognized for their outstanding leadership and service at Parkview.

The Board of Education will host a combined meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m.

WATCH LIVE: https://bit.ly/4jbUeuo

In honor of the , students at Field Elementary School came together on to participate in a peace walk promoting unity, compassion and nonviolence.🚶‍♀️✌️🚶 Carrying signs and messages of hope, they walked in solidarity through the Brentwood neighborhood to raise awareness about the importance of peace in their communities and around the world. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4AwdPvM.