June 1, 2019

The Raytown School District is pleased to announce the hiring of current Robinson Elementary Administrator Intern Dr. April Sutherland as the incoming principal of Southwood Elementary beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

Dr. Sutherland has previously served as a special education teacher in the Belton School District and Park Hill School District as well as Spring Valley Elementary in the Raytown School District. She has also served as an assistant principal at Troost Elementary in the Kansas City Public School District and as the administrator intern at Robinson Elementary in the Raytown School District since 2015.

Dr. Sutherland received her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology from Grambling State University; a Masters of Arts in Special Education – Behavior Disorders and an Educational Specialist Degree in Administration both from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.

Dr. Sutherland will follow Dr. Cathy Miller who will retire after 32 years in education, 29 of those years with the Raytown School District. Dr. Sutherland will assume duties as the principal at Southwood Elementary on July 12, 2019.