New Monett elementary principal outlines plans

Karly Drake details vision for first year as administrator
 
This fall, Karly Drake became the new principal at Monett Elementary School.
This is her first administrative position with the district. Prior to this, Drake worked as an instructional specialist for the district. She served for 12 years as a Title 1 instructional coach for the Webb City school district. She is married to Monett School Superintendent Mark Drake.
To become better known to the community and to parents, she agreed to share her views on her new role and what she would like to see at MES.
Asked what makes a good leader in her new role, Drake said, “A good principal is transformational – not just managing, but inspiring. This means building teacher leadership, fostering collective efficacy, and creating a positive climate. A strong principal keeps students at the heart of every decision, builds trust and alignment so staff believe in one another and the mission, and shares control intentionally to empower others to lead.
“For example, at Monett Elementary, we have created belief statements that guide how we live and work each day, and we have developed mission statements that take those beliefs to a deeper, actionable level. In addition, we have established five core leadership teams that build leadership capacity in all staff, ensuring that everyone has a role in shaping the school’s culture and direction. By celebrating both small and large wins, the principal builds momentum, boosts morale, and sustains a culture of growth and joy across the school community. A good principal knows it takes all of us to bring out the best in us.”
New school initiative
Elementary principals have a great deal of contact with parents. Asked how to secure confidence from parents, particularly those unfamiliar with the school and its people, Drake said, “Inspiring confidence begins with creating authentic partnerships. At Monett Elementary, we are working to increase guardian involvement through G.O. MES (Guardians of MES), a new initiative designed to expand volunteer opportunities, strengthen fundraising efforts, and provide added academic support from stakeholders. We also host Parent Involvement Nights, where families can engage directly with staff, learn strategies to support their child’s learning, and feel connected to the school’s mission.
“In addition, we use ParentSquare to ensure consistent, accessible communication with families, keeping them informed and involved in school life. Most importantly, our teachers are amazing at building relationships and communicating with parents on a daily basis, which fosters trust and strengthens the bond between school and home. By combining these efforts, we create an environment where families feel valued, informed, and empowered to contribute to student success.”
Bringing joy
Previous Monett Elementary principals have spoken about making learning fun to inspire students to look forward to coming to classes. Drake said she has similar goals.
“My mission statement emphasizes bringing joy and lightness to the work, celebrating every win, and creating an environment where students feel safe, valued, and motivated—and that directly connects to making learning a fun and engaging experience for students,” she said. “It is also in one of our belief statements. This is a clear priority for us at MES because it motivates students to want to come to school and take ownership of their learning. Promoting fun happens in many ways: through engaging instruction such as fluency practice, student-driven learning, and enrichment opportunities; through school-wide celebrations of learning that honor both effort and progress; and through positive climate initiatives like morale boosters and culture-building activities.
“We also extend learning beyond the classroom with field trips, career days, and partnerships with programs such as JAG [Jobs for America’s Graduates], A+, and GoCAPS [Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Professional Studies], giving students meaningful, real-world experiences. Most importantly, our teachers bring creativity and passion to their craft, consistently creating opportunities that make learning exciting and memorable for students,” she added.
Inspiring cohesion
Of all the school levels, elementary campuses usually represent the most tightly knit group of educators. Asked about inspiring her team, Drake said, “Confidence in a principal grows when leadership is shared and trust is built through consistent follow-through. At Monett Elementary, staff strengths are intentionally matched to leadership teams such as data, instructional practices, and climate, so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully. Team leads are supported with coaching and clarity of roles, which helps them feel equipped to guide their peers. Teacher leadership is recognized and celebrated, ensuring staff feel empowered and valued for their contributions.
“Grounded in our Leader-Leader framework, where ‘everyone is a leader,’ this approach emphasizes that leadership is collective rather than positional. Just as important, doing what is promised and following through builds credibility, showing staff that their trust is well-placed and reinforcing confidence in the entire leadership process. These actions that are being implemented will help MES have confidence in me. It starts with the fact that I have full confidence in them as leaders.”
Pulling together despite diversity
Monett Elementary is a campus broken into three separate hallways of classrooms for grades one to three, so that teachers do not routinely see all their colleagues. With students learning at different rates, particularly with 28 difference languages spoken in the district, Drake agreed this offers challenges in building cohesion.
“We meet purposefully every Friday and incorporate team-building activities at least once a month, creating opportunities for staff to connect beyond their daily routines,” she said. “At the beginning of the year, we launched team-building experiences that were very successful. We plan to continue expanding those opportunities throughout the year. Collaboration is also a priority, with structured times for grade-level teams, instructional coaches, and ELL [English Language Learners] staff to plan together. Our five core leadership teams meet monthly. This builds relationships among staff who may not work closely together each day.
“In addition, belief statements are posted in common staff areas as reminders of our shared values and collective wins, as well as individual wins, are celebrated to unite staff across physical and instructional divides. These practices build cohesion not just through proximity, but through shared purpose, intentional collaboration, and strong relationships.”
Goals
Drake has specific goals she would like to reach in her new role.
“In my first year as principal, my goals focus on building a strong foundation in student achievement, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and school culture,” she said. “Increasing literacy proficiency and closing learning gaps through data-driven instruction and collaborative planning will be a top priority. At the same time, leadership capacity will be strengthened by empowering teacher-led teams that ensure sustainability and shared ownership of our goals. Meaningful stakeholder engagement will also be a focus, with consistent communication to parents and the establishment of a stakeholder involvement team to deepen family-school partnerships.
“Just as important, I aim to build trust and a shared vision through purposeful staff collaboration, morale-building efforts, and celebrations of growth at every level. Central to all of this is the commitment to building strong, trustworthy relationships with students, staff, and families, because trust and connection are the foundation that allows all other goals to be achieved. My commitment is to lead with joy and purpose, empower teachers as leaders, strengthen connections with families, provide clarity and context, and create an environment where progress is recognized and celebrated across our entire school community,” Drake added.