NW Missouri Times

After 27 years in the education field, Kevin Pitts, a Northwest Missouri State University alumnus, has taken on the role of director of Horace Mann Laboratory School and the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families. Pitts, who previously served as principal at Maryville Middle School for 19 years, expressed his sentiment about the opportunity, stating, "I got to thinking, ‘This would be my first fall not going back to kids and teachers and all that goes with it.'"

Returning to his alma mater where he completed his practice teaching 30 years ago, Pitts described the experience as "like walking back in time." He reflected on the evolution of educational practices, noting, "When you leave here and go to other places, you buy into their things and create your own as a leader."

Horace Mann and the Leet Center cater to children from 12 months to sixth grade, offering a unique learning environment with a focus on hands-on, project-based learning. Pitts acknowledged the learning curve of transitioning to a university campus setting, stating, "Having a school on a university campus is a very unique situation, so there’s just been a lot of learning the system and the resources."

Despite the challenges of adapting to a new structure, Pitts remains committed to fostering growth and leadership skills among students, emphasizing the importance of creating an environment that allows children to develop their leadership abilities. He shared, "I want to try and instill some more leadership in our kids and create an environment that allows them to do some more leadership things."

Pitts attributes much of his success in education to his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, emphasizing the strong connection he feels with the institution. He expressed gratitude for the support and patience from the Northwest community, stating, "It’s been a blessing, and it’s just a good University."

As he navigates his role as director of Horace Mann, Pitts aims to prioritize creating a safe and positive environment for students to thrive. He articulated his goal, saying, "I just want to create the best, safest environment for our kids to be themselves, have appreciation for individuals and make leaders out of everyone."