Columbia Public Schools

Title: Chief Operations Officer

 

Mailing address:
1818 West Worley Street
Columbia, MO 65203

 

Contact information:
Phone: (573) 214-3730
Fax: (573) 214-3401

Email: rgooch@cpsk12.org

 

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Truman State University

Master of Education in Counseling from Western Kentucky State University

Master of Education in School Administration and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from William Woods University.

 

With more than 20 years of experience in education, I have had a variety of roles, including serving as a teacher, counselor, and the Director of the Hart Career Center in Mexico, MO, before I joined Columbia Public Schools, where I became the Director of Career, Technical and Adult Education. I am excited to say that I am starting my 8th year with Columbia Public Schools. I also served as a Commissioned Army Officer in the late 1980s, Operation Manager for Wal-Mart Private Fleet, and owned and operated a custom millwork company. I frequently speak and present at the local, state, and national levels for Career and Technical Education and as Independent Executive Director of The John Maxwell Team.

 

During my Columbia Area Career Center administration, the Southern Region Education Board awarded me the 2017 Career Center of the Year.

 

I am a member of numerous organizations that support CTE at the state and national levels, I serve my community as a Rotarian, and I am a member and youth Sunday School teacher of my church.

 

I am a husband of 29 years and a father to three daughters. When I find the time, I enjoy bicycling with my family, building and repairing guitars, and I recently entered the world of sidecar motorcycles.