At their most recent school board meeting, the Keota School District announced they had hired Josh Smith as the elementary principal and curriculum director. Smith was most recently a teacher and coach at Hartwick-Ladora-Victor schools, and is finishing a degree from Drake University. Smith’s coaching responsibilities at HLV included head varsity baseball, assistant varsity football, junior high boys track, and junior high boys basketball.

Superintendent Dennis Phelps said they had around 12 applicants for the position and interviewed four. The process began with interviews by committees which included parent and community, staff, and administrative teams. They were then interviewed by the school board, and finally by Phelps in what he called an “exit interview.” Phelps said in the end, Smith stood out because he was young, enthusiastic, energetic, and showed great excitement in starting a new phase in his career.