Josh Teeter

Seasoned educator joins PBJHS administrative team
Posted on 08/14/2018
Seasoned educator joins PBJHS administrative team

An area education leader who worked his way up from teaching history to building level administration will take over as assistant principal at Junior High. 

Hailing from the Bootheel, Josh Teeter was hired by the Board of Education to succeed Jay Dowd, who is returning to the Graduation Center for the 2018/19 school year.

“I think he will bring a fresh approach to the building and together I anticipate that we will make a great team,” said Candace Warren, who is entering her second year as PBJHS principal.

Teeter became aware of the position opening, participating in doctoral classes with R-I administrators Drs. Amy Jackson and Brad Owings through Poplar Bluff’s partnership with Lindenwood University. 

His dissertation focuses on the non-cognitive characteristic of grit, he shared, and how data has shown that resilience to persevere through obstacles can be a better indicator of success than a high IQ. 

Already well credentialed, Teeter has earned his specialist in school leadership from William Woods University in Fulton, where he previously received a master’s degree in secondary administration. He also has a master’s in history/social science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. 

“I knew in the interview when he started talking and he had such an energy about him that he would be a great asset,” Warren went on. “I was impressed with his data-driven mindset and how he planned to use that to decrease our discipline numbers.” 

For nearly a decade, Teeter taught history at Cooter High School, increasing the standardized test scores of students and creating ways to encourage positive classroom behavior. In 2016, he was named high school principal. In addition, he worked multiple summers as an adjunct history professor for Arkansas Northeastern College.

Every school principal should have started their tenure as an esteemed instructor, according to Teeter. “If you haven’t been an outstanding teacher, how are you gonna evaluate someone when you’ve never actually done it?” he questioned. “You need to know what it’s like to stay up all night writing a PowerPoint.” 

He credits a former instructor for advising him as an undergrad to not just pursue a history degree, but one with a teaching certification component. Had it not been for that advice, Teeter reflected, he may have been inclined to advance to law school, never to discover his passion for teaching. 

An engaging faculty member is one who creates a dialogue with students, not a monologue, he continued. “You’re not a standup comedian,” Teeter stated. “If the bell ringing does not interrupt your lesson daily, that’s an area of improvement.” 

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Cutline: Josh Teeter, pictured in the board room, begins his new job as assistant principal at PBJHS.

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