Tarkio R-I School District in Tarkio, Missouri, has announced the hiring of Kevin Dodson as Tarkio Junior High/High School Principal and Dustin Barnes as Tarkio Elementary Principal.

Kevin Dodson has taught for nine years, high school math at Tarkio for six years and business at Nodaway-Holt for three years. He has also served as the head high school boys’ basketball coach for East Atchison for the past six years and served the same role at Nodaway-Holt for two years.

Kevin grew up in Fortescue, Missouri, and attended Craig R-III, graduating in 2010. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Northwest Missouri State University in Business Education and is finishing up his Master’s Degree at Northwest in Educational Leadership.

Kevin lives in Tarkio with his wife, Meridee, and his three children, Kasen, Journey, and Blake. He remarked, “I am excited to serve the students, staff, and community of Tarkio in a new role and lead our building in a positive direction.”

Attending elementary school in Westboro, Missouri, junior high in Tarkio and high school in Fairfax, Missouri, Dustin Barnes graduated high school in 1995 from Fairfax. He attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, graduating in 2000. He has an Educational Specialist Degree in Administration.

Mr. Barnes taught high school history for five years at Mark Twain High School and then became the K-12 Principal at Fairfax, where he has been for the past 18 years. Dustin has also been the East Atchison basketball coach and East Atchison boys’ golf coach.

Dustin has been married to his wife, Erica, for 12 years this summer. They have two children, Aislyn and Kolcyn. Dustin enjoys athletics, golfing, and spending time with his family and cooking.

Dustin said, “I am very excited for the opportunity to join the Tarkio School District and look forward to working with a great staff and group of kids!”