Bio

Dr. Fields leads human capital strategy, talent development and organizational culture for the Kirkwood School District, a nearly 6,000-student district in suburban Missouri. Under his direction the district achieved its highest staff retention rates in recent years. He also helped to negotiate labor agreements that balanced equity with fiscal responsibility and helped introduce 40 days of paid parental leave for all employees.

Before moving into district leadership Dr. Fields served as principal in two very different settings. In his first year as a principal in Riverview Gardens, he helped create intentional academic and trauma-informed supports that produced a 200 percent increase in the school’s Annual Performance Report score (2015), earning him mulitple recognitions including North County Inc.’s 30 Leaders in Their 30s (20116). In Webster Groves he expanded elective course offerings using existing staff and overhauled the gifted assessment process, resulting in previously excluded students being identified and supported in advanced programming. These measures alone saved the district thousands of dollars.

A graduate of St. Louis Community College–Florissant Valley and the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, an M.Ed., an Ed.S. and a Ph.D., Dr. Fields translates research into practice. He founded InDepth, an annual professional learning conference that brings hundreds of educators together for hands-on workshops and professional learning, building capacity within the field. As an adjunct professor at institutions including Mizzou where he taught Ethics in Educational Leadership he has mentored dozens of teachers, administrators and students. His accomplishments have been honored with Missouri’s National Distinguished Principal of the Year award (2020) and numerous other regional, national and international accolades.

When he is not pouring into the education field or spending time with his wife and four children he volunteers regularly at his church and partners with community and many others to ensure a shared ownership of student success.