West Plains School District names Dr. Josh Cotter new South Central Career Center Director
Wed, 07/27/2022 - 4:01pm
admin
The West Plains School District Board of Education has appointed Dr. Josh Cotter as the South Central Career Center (SCCC) Director for the 2022 - 2023 school year. The decision follows the retirement of former director Jim Laughary.
Dr. Cotter served twelve years as the Assistant Director and Coordinator of Adult Education for SCCC. Dr. Cotter has also served as a social studies teacher and dean of students at the West Plains High School.
Dr. Cotter has been involved in community activities and civic organizations in West Plains for the past two decades, having served as Vice Chairman of the University of Missouri Howell County Extension Council, Chairman of the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the West Plains Civic Center Board of Directors, and Treasurer of the West Plains Education Foundation. Currently, Dr. Cotter is serving his second term on the West Plains City Council, his second term as a commissioner for the Council on Occupational Education (a national accrediting agency), and as a board member for the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments.
As the Director of Career and Technical Education for West Plains Schools, Dr. Cotter is responsible for all technical education, including oversight of South Central Career Center, which serves thirteen area school districts and provides adult education.
"For over 50 years, SCCC has helped to provide this region a highly-qualified workforce with students that have the technical expertise to provide for themselves and their families. I am incredibly proud of the work we do and excited about the future."
Dr. Cotter has presented many programs locally and nationally on workforce readiness, employment outlook, the relevance of educational attainment in employment, institutional accreditation, and the role of career and technical education in south central Missouri.
Dr. Cotter began his duties on July 1, 2022, upon board approval as the new SCCC Director at the June 28, 2022 board meeting.