Dr. Jim Horton became the director of the Southwest Center in July of 2011 after retiring from K-12 education where he served thirty five years as teacher, coach, athletic director, principal and superintendent. Dr. Horton received in Bachelor of Science degree in 1976, Master of Science in Education degree in 1982, and Specialist’s degree in 1986 all from Missouri State University. He completed in Educational Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri in 2009.
Dr. Horton begin his career in education as a math teacher and coach in Sparta Missouri in the fall of 1976 and moved as a teacher and coach in 1978 to Springfield Catholic where he served for four years. Beginning in 1982, he taught and coached for one year in the Crane R-III School District before assuming the role as High School Principal in 1983. After six years as principal, basketball coach and athletic director, Dr. Horton assumed his first superintendent position in the Marion C. Early R-V School District, where he also coached Girls’ Basketball and Softball. In the fall of 1998, Dr. Horton left to become Superintendent in the Butler R-V School District, where he worked for seven years. In 2005, Dr. Horton began his final position in K-12 education by becoming the superintendent in the Excelsior Springs School District, where he led the district until retirement in June of 2011.
Dr. Horton currently resides in Carl Junction with his wife Louise, who recently retired from K-12 education where she taught special education in Excelsior Springs. The have three grown children – Adam, who works as a senior financial analyst for Associated Electric in Springfield; Rebecca who works as an internal auditor for Bass Pro in Springfield; and Megan, Special Education teacher and coach in the Adrian School District. In addition, they are the proud grandparents of two – Leah Horton, 5 and Malichi, 3 who reside with Adam and his wife Sarah in Nixa.
According to Dr. Horton, “the role of the Southwest Center is to provide support for member districts as they strive to provide a quality education for the students of Southwest Missouri”.