Nathan Fent named next director of the Franklin Technology Center adult education program

The Joplin Globe, Mo.
·2 min read

Feb. 28—Nathan Fent has been named the director of the Franklin Technology Center adult education program. He will begin the role July 1.

Fent succeeds Penny Williams, who is retiring.

He will be joining the Joplin School District from his current position as the career and technical education director at Crowder College in Neosho, where he also spent time as the director of postsecondary career and technical cducation and the CTE advising specialist.

Before joining Crowder, he was an undergraduate and graduate instructor at Missouri State University in Springfield, and a marketing and business teacher at the Carthage Technical Center.

Fent graduated with an associate's degree in agriculture in 2007 from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University in 2009, followed by master's degrees in secondary education and educational leadership, both from Missouri State University.

He is currently completing an educational specialist degree in adult, career and technical education leadership from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

Fent is a member of the Missouri Community College Association, the Missouri Council of Career and Technical Administrators, and the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education.

"I am excited for the opportunity to join Joplin schools and the Franklin Tech team in continuing to support adult education programs," Fent said in a statement. "I look forward to fostering relationships within the district and community to provide valuable learning opportunities for individuals and address workforce needs in our region."

Joplin Superintendent Kerry Sachetta said in a statement: "Nathan's experience as a teacher and director of secondary and adult postsecondary education programs will be beneficial as we transition the leadership of FTC-Adult. Nathan has already built relationships with industry leaders in the area. We look forward to extending our current training programs to fulfill the needs of the local workforce and considering new options in the future."