Mark Penny

Superintendent, Lincoln County R-III (Troy, Mo.) Public School District

M.Ed. '98, Ed.S. '05

"William Woods University’s Graduate College program was the perfect fit for me. The flexible schedule afforded me the opportunities to advance my career and enhance my professional experience."

Mark Penny earned a bachelor’s degree in education and social science from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, Arkansas. He earned a master’s degree in education (secondary administration) from William Woods in 1998 while working full time. He also earned a specialist’s degree in administration in 2005 from The Woods. He is now pursuing his doctorate in education at WWU while serving as superintendent of the Moberly Public Schools.

Penny was a commencement speaker in 2008, shortly before assuming the role of superintendent. When addressing the graduates, he said, "The secret to any successful organization is its ability to build long-lasting, powerful relationships with people."

Beginning his career in Moberly as a seventh-grade social studies teacher in 1997, he became assistant high school principal two years later, and served as principal from 2000 to 2004. For the next four years, Penny served as assistant superintendent, with responsibilities for curriculum and instruction, staff professional development, managing the district's technology budget, coordinating federal programs, evaluating building level administrators, coordinating MSIP review and school improvement plans. In 2011, Penny was hired to assume the leadership at Lincoln County R-III school system in Troy, Missouri.

Mark served as a member of the Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce, and also as an adjunct Instructor for William Woods University in the graduate education program.

A past president of the Moberly Kiwanis Club, member of the Moberly Rotary Club and Moberly St. Pius X Church, Mark is involved with the Moberly Area Soccer Association. He and his wife, Cassandra, have three children, Lizzy, Grant and Sydney.