Crenshaw makes himself home at IHS

In Scott Crenshaw’s office is a sign that reads, “Time is passing…. are you?”
“I had a science teacher in high school who posted this in his room. He has since passed, but he had a large impact on me as a student,” Crenshaw said. “This is a reminder of his legacy.”
Crenshaw is the new assistant principal at Iola High School and refers to himself as the “new old guy.”
“I most recently came from teaching science in Baldwin City but I’ve only been teaching for eight years,” he said.
He graduated from college with a degree in education after which he entered the world of business. He owned several bakeries in the Kansas City area and also owned a construction company at one point.
A relief trip to Jamaica changed the course of his life. Placed in a school, Crenshaw worked with students who didn’t have pencils, chairs that didn’t have backs and a jungle for a backyard. He loved every minute of it.
He continued to go there for three more years until he finally made the decision to make a career of teaching.
Twenty years after receiving his degree in education he renewed his teaching license.
“It’s like I had a mid-life ‘aha’ moment,” he said. “I’ve never been happier. These last eight years have been the best of my life.”
While teaching biology in Baldwin City he taught a dual credit course with Neosho Community College and was able to take his students on a trip to Florida to help endangered sea turtles.
“It’s really exciting to see kids do something like that and see the ocean for the first time,” he said.
Although he loved being in a classroom Crenshaw wanted to go back to school again to further his own education.
“I’m always looking for new challenges and I wanted to advance myself,” he said. “I already had a master’s in business and so I went back to earn a second master’s in school administration.”
Iola High will be his first role as an administrator and he said he is very excited to get school started up.
“Administrators have a greater allowance of time to talk to the kids and I’m hoping to build deeper relationships with students to see how we can ensure their success,” he said.
Another key role is supporting teachers. Crenshaw said he wants to be an advocate for all support staff, from the custodians to the secretaries.
His wife, Renee, has been an elementary school counselor in Ottawa for 25 years. Renee will commute from Iola to Ottawa. The couple have six grown daughters.
“We have been walking around the town square and we are really starting to like this town,” he said. “We are both small town people and I really want to live here in Iola to acclimate to the staff and become a part of the team. I’m really looking forward to this year.”