Republic R-3 Superintendent Pearce to retire

Assistant superintendent Tyler Overstreet to fill position for which he’s been training with Pearce
 
Superintendent of Republic Schools Dr. Matt Pearce has announced his retirement after spending 13 years with the district.
Pearce will finish the school year before handing the reins over to the current assistant superintendent, Dr. Tyler Overstreet.
At the Republic Board of Education meeting on Dec. 18, the board accepted Pearce’s retirement notice in closed session before the open meeting. Pearce has served the district in different capacities, spending six years in the superintendent position. In total, Pearce has dedicated 30 years to public education.
Pearce said that perhaps the biggest accomplishment during his time at Republic was the improvements in academics. He said that it was something Chance Wistrom, the previous superintendent, challenged him with.
“Watching what has happened over the past 13 years in regard to academic growth and high achievement and standards has been pretty outstanding,” said Pearce.
Pearce also went and got his commercial driver’s license during a district-wide bus shortage to help the district should the need arise, though it never quite did.
“I drove a couple of school trips,” said Pearce. “I didn’t have to do that much, but if needed, I was ready to be called upon.

Retirement announced in press release
According to a release distributed on Dec. 19, Pearce plans to continue working in some capacity, but what that means for him is not yet known. He said in an interview with reporters that he is retiring because he wants to seek out new challenges.
“When you’ve been in the education field for 30 years and [have been] superintendent for six, been in the central office for 13, you kind of get in your routines,” said Pearce. I just found myself wanting to have a little bit different challenge.”

Overstreet to helm
Now with Pearce soon to be gone, Overstreet will get the nod. Overstreet has spent six years in the assistant superintendent seat with 11 years in the district total. Pearce said that Overstreet’s leadership style differs from his in a few key ways, saying that Overstreet is more outgoing and brings people together.
Pearce believes that since he has worked with Overstreet for the past six years in their current professional relationship. Because Pearce knew his days as superintendent were not unlimited, he and Overstreet worked more closely as the years went by.
“Obviously knowing that I was closer to the end of my career than the beginning you know, we just started doing more and more stuff together,” said Pearce. “We’ve been working probably in the last [18 months to two years] more closely on the budget.”
With Overstreet moving into the superintendent role on July 1, 2026, the district will have to seek out a new team member to fill the assistant superintendent position. The district plans to begin the search immediately.