Peery to Lead Finley River School Starting 24-25 School Year

 

The Ozark Board of Education, at its Jan.18 meeting, voted to hire Justin Peery as the Finley River School principal for the 2024-25 school year.

Peery has been teaching for over 20 years, but joined Ozark School District in 2013. He taught English at Ozark High School until 2019, when he moved to teach at Finley River School where he has been teaching ever since. He also serves the district as an assistant coach for football and the head coach of boys golf. 

"With over 23 years of service, more than half of which have been with Ozark School District, I am excited for this new chapter in my career,” he said. “There are great things happening at Finley River School, and I am excited to lead and help ensure those things continue in the future.”

Peery earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education in 2000 from Westminster University and his Master’s in Secondary Administration in 2006 from William Woods University.  

Executive Director of Secondary Learning Gerald Chambers said he is looking forward to seeing  how Peery leads Finley River into the future. 

"I am very excited that Justin Peery will take on the principal role at Finley River School next school year,” he said. “After over four years of teaching at Finley River, he knows the students and has the passion and heart for Ozark students. He will make an excellent leader for Finley River School.”

Peery will replace Constance Leonard who is retiring at the end of the school year. Leonard has been in education for over 30 years and has been the head of Finley River School since 2019. 

Peery will step into his new role July 1, 2024.