New superintendent of schools is introduced in USD 475

Dewey Terrill

By JC Post

Dr. Reginald Eggleston speaking at a press conference at the Devin Center.

The new superintendent of schools for USD 475, Dr. Reginald Eggleston, spent time Thursday becoming acquainted with the school district and community.

One item on his agenda was a press conference at the Devin Center that was attended by media and school district personnel.

Eggleston stated he believes it is his job as an educator and the job of all educators to create opportunities for young people. “We talk about college and career ready so often, but what we’re trying to do is look beyond the high school years and even try to predict what we need to prepare them for.” Eggleston said the educators need to ensure they’re creating opportunities that will help young people be ready for the unknown.

Eggleston has more than 24 years of experience in public education and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. He was asked about how the military background could help out in USD 475. Many of the students in the district are in military connected families. Eggleston said he had been in the reserves 28 years including 20 in the Army reserves. He has been deployed on multiple occasions. “I’ve worked at the Pentagon on the joint staff, and I currently serve as a commander at Fort Knox, Kentucky. I have a senior ROTC battalion.” He stated that his experiences wearing the uniform help him understand what it feels like to experience a separation when it comes to family. ” It helps you understand from an emotional standpoint how individuals feel. “We want to serve, we want to provide that service to our country and yet we know that we are leaving our families back home, who we expect to run and keep things going.”

Eggleston added it gives him a soft sport for the Soldiers. ” It motivates me to want to serve and offer everything that I possibly can to help them be successful so that while they are away doing the work that they have been called to do they can know that they left their families in good hands. And I think that is very important.”

Eggleston will begin work in USD 475 on April 15th. He and his wife Regina will relocate to Junction City from Mobile, Alabama.