New Chief Operating Officer named for Columbia Public Schools

Randy Gooch will be the new chief operating officer for Columbia Public Schools.

Gooch will oversee the facilities and construction services, custodial services and transportation departments for CPS.

“For the past seven years, Gooch has served in a leadership role at the Columbia Area Career Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in education, including serving as a teacher, counselor and as the director of the Hart Career Center in Mexico, Missouri, before joining Columbia Public Schools,” says the official press release from Columbia Public Schools. “He also served as a commissioned Army officer, operation manager for Wal-Mart Private Fleet and owned and operated a custom millwork company.”

The release goes on to say that Gooch has a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Truman State University, a master’s degree in counseling from Western Kentucky State University, a master’s degree in school administration and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from William Woods University.