My name is Nick Stearns and I am the new Dean of Students at both Vineland and Athena.  A little background:  I am a De Soto alumnus and this is my 19th year in education.  I attended Jefferson College and Southeast Missouri State while earning a bachelor's degree in Business Education.  I have a Masters in Educational Leadership and am finishing up my Specialist Degree from Missouri Baptist.  I spent my first sixteen years in education teaching high school and junior high at De Soto. During that time I coached both high school and junior high basketball, high school baseball, served as department chair, helped initiate the JAG program in the high school, and helped with a variety of administrative tasks throughout the district.  I spent the last two years with the Grandview R-II School District, serving as the high school building principal. 

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my wife (who is a teacher at De Soto High School) and two daughters (Payton, a high school freshman and Maclynn, a seventh grader), coaching youth basketball, umpiring high school baseball, and all things sports related.  I am beyond excited to come back home to De Soto and to work with such great educators.  I can truly say that I “Bleed Green” and look forward to rejoining the Dragon Family.  My family and I live in this community and I want to help this district achieve great things. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can support you in any way!