Brentwood School Superintendent Surprised by Honor

Brentwood Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Penberthy found a surprise in the mail recently.

He was selected to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from the school where he began his higher education, Mineral Area College, in Park Hills, MO.

"It was unexpected, that's for sure," Penberthy said. He said he was invited to this year's commencement to receive the recognition.

He said he spent two years at the junior college, about 65 miles south of Brentwood.

Penberthy is in his last year as the Brentwood School District Superintendent. He's retiring at the end of the school year, and will , currently the assistant to superintendent.

Mineral Area College sent the following information on Penberthy along with the announcement of the recognition.

Dr. Penberthy graduated from Leadwood High School and received his Associate of Arts degree from MAC. While attending the community college, he was a starter for the conference champion basketball team, participated in a college-sponsored leadership retreat and graduated with honors.

He received his bachelor’s degree in education and his master’s and specialist degree in educational administration from Southeast Missouri State University. He attended St. Louis University, where he received his doctorate in educational administration.

Penberthy has served as superintendent of the Brentwood School District since July 2003. Previously, he served as assistant superintendent and superintendent for the Gasconade County R-2 School District. Prior administrative experience includes serving as a middle school principal at Union R-XI and Perry County District #32 and serving as a middle school assistant principal in the Farmington School District.

He began his educational career as a teacher and coach in the Woodland School District and later in the Arcadia Valley School District.

He is active in several civic organizations, including the Brentwood Optimist Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Penberthy is an active member of the Missouri Association of School Administrators, Cooperating School Districts of the Greater St. Louis Area, and Missouri Association of School Business Officials.

He has been president of the South Central Missouri Association of School Administrators, as well as a past president of the Greater St. Louis Area Cooperating School District.

Penberthy takes pride in the accomplishments that Brentwood School District has achieved under his leadership. The district is annually recognized as a Missouri School of Academic Distinction. Three-quarters of the district’s schools have been recognized as a state Gold Star School, and half have been recognized as a national No School Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.

The district has also been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top-rated school district in the nation and several of the schools have received awards as State Schools of Character, one was awarded as a National School of Character.

Penberthy took great pleasure in working with the community’s youngest learners by expanding the Brentwood Early Childhood program from a single classroom in the high school to a new, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to 2-5 year-olds.

Penberthy is married to Donna (Whitener) Penberthy, who is also a graduate of Mineral Area Junior College and is a retired teacher. They have one daughter, Brandi (husband Brett Arndt). Dr. and Mrs. Penberthy have two grandchildren, Beckett, 3, and Barett, 1.

Penberthy will retire from public education at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year, and he said he looks forward to spending more time at his most rewarding job – being a grandpa.