By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph School District has appointed and two new assitant princpals for Central High School as Misty Burright and Kendra Hodgin's have been approved by the Board of Education ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
Burright has more than two decades of experience in public education, serving as a teacher, instructional leader, athletic director and assistant principal. She most recently, she served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Bode Middle School.
Before moving into administration, Burright taught in both the Park Hill School District and the St. Joseph School District. A National Board Certified Teacher, she is recognized for her expertise in classroom instruction, student engagement, behavior support and creating positive learning environments.
Her dedication to education has earned recognitions, including being selected to the St. Joseph School District Aspiring Leadership Cohort, named a St. Joseph School District top 3 Teacher of the Year finalist, a Missouri Art Teacher of the Year nominee, and awarded a classroom visit through the Harvard Project
Hodgin began her career with the St. Joseph School District in 2014 as a para-professional before transitioning into the classroom as an elementary teacher for two years. She then spent seven years as a Physical Education teacher and coach at Truman Middle School. Most recently, she has served for three years as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Truman.
Hodgin earned her bachelor's degree from Missouri Western State University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from William Woods University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Superintendency from Southwest Baptist University.
“As Assistant Principal at Central High School, I am committed to building strong relationships with students, families, staff, and the community,” Hodgin says in a news release from the district. “As Central enters a period of significant change, I look forward to building trust through meaningful connections and providing a calm, steady, presence for students, staff, and families. I am a lifelong St. Joseph resident and graduate of St. Joseph School District, and I am passionate about giving back to the community and school district that helped shape me.”
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