The newly elected Shell Knob School Board President is Leah Denton. Ms. Denton served last year as Vice President. In July of 2025, Ms. Denton took on the role of K-8 representative on the Missouri State Board Association (MSBA) of Directors. Denton considers herself as the representative for rural voices, working to ensure every student in Missouri has the opportunity to succeed. During her year on the MSBA, Ms. Denton attended multiple workshops and professional development conferences, earning the Advanced Board Member Certification. Recently, Ms. Denton was selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the MSBA Board of Directors for the upcoming school year.
Ms. Denton recently took time out to reflect on this new chapter of public education service: "Serving on the Executive Committee of the MSBA Board of Directors is an opportunity that came through my involvement with MSBA and service as a K–8 representative on the Board of Directors. I am the small district representative, which is a board appointed position. I was also honored to receive my Advanced Board Member Certification, which recognizes continued professional development beyond the training required for school board service. This included completing tasks such as attending other district board meetings, reading and reflecting on books about school board service, and attending state-wide events.
For Shell Knob School, both opportunities provide additional chances to learn from school leaders across Missouri, stay informed on emerging issues and best practices, and bring those ideas back to benefit our students, staff, and community. School boards face increasingly complex challenges, and continuing education and statewide collaboration help ensure we are making informed decisions and serving our district well.
I am grateful for both opportunities and look forward to continuing to represent Shell Knob School and Missouri’s K–8 districts."
When asked what motivated her to get involved in the public education world, Ms. Denton explained; "I got involved with Shell Knob School a few years ago. I did so because I am from Shell Knob. I attended Shell Knob school after relocating to Shell Knob and then I attended high school in Cassville. I understand that part of what makes a good community is a good school system . The impact the school has on its children propels them towards becoming productive members of society. In Shell Knob, we have a fantastic school and students. I believe that if we give back to the school, then that will, in turn, create a better community for everyone. As far as MSBA goes, I was talking with some friends from other school districts about some of the struggles that we have as a K-8 compared to larger districts in the area. One of the friends who served on MSBA informed me of an open representative position on the Board of Directors. It is the K-8 representative for the state and asked if I would be interested in this position because part of that role is to show other K-8 districts how MSBA can support them in their roles. I’ve seen the good things that MSBA has done for our school and I want students to succeed everywhere, not just Shell Knob. I care about students and their communities and the health of the school. My goal in getting involved with MSBA was to shed light on the benefits that they bring and the challenges K-8 districts face. I hope to have more conversations and representation on a statewide level for those smaller school districts that traditionally would fall under the radar."
Ms. Denton further shared her future aspirations in the public education journey. " As far as future aspirations go, I plan on continuing my service on the Shell Knob School Board because I thoroughly enjoy it. I love being at the school and seeing everyone in their involvement and dedication. I love being a part of something bigger than myself. Shell Knob is just an absolutely phenomenal place to be. With MSBA I plan on expanding my role within that organization. I have been working with them on outreach for K-8. With my involvement on the executive committee, I am the small district representative so as I grow on MSBA‘s leadership team, I can continue to bring a voice to small districts that maybe don’t realize they have one or don’t have the resources to be able to feel like they have a seat at the table."