Patrick Moore, (Kearney Public Schools, Courtesy)
KEARNEY, NE — Kearney Public Schools is pleased to announce that Patrick Moore has been selected as the next Assistant Principal of Horizon Middle School. Moore will replace William Schmidt, who was recently promoted to serve as the school’s principal.
Moore brings extensive leadership experience to Kearney Public Schools, most recently serving as the 7–12 principal at Blue Hill Schools in Blue Hill, Nebraska. Prior to that, he served as the PK–12 principal at Bruning-Davenport Schools in Bruning, Nebraska. Moore began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Creighton Jr./Sr. High School in Creighton, Nebraska.
“Patrick Moore is a proven educational leader who understands the importance of strong relationships, high expectations, and student-centered decision making,” said Kearney Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Mundorf. “His background in instructional leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement will be a tremendous asset to Horizon Middle School. We are excited to welcome him to Kearney Public Schools.”
Moore has earned multiple advanced degrees from Doane University, including an Education Specialist degree and two Master of Education degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and History from Doane University in Crete.
Throughout his career, Moore has demonstrated strong leadership in schools and communities. His work has included organizational leadership, strategic leadership, instructional leadership, and community leadership initiatives. He has received numerous recognitions for his contributions to education, including the NSASSP Distinguished Service Award, the Doane Alumni Educator of the Year Award, the Nebraska FFA Association Cornerstone Award, the National Guard Patriotic Employer Award, and the NSASSP State High School Principal of the Year Award.
Moore has also served as a presenter for the National Association of Secondary School Principals on federal policy and advocacy where he has led Nebraska high school principals on advocacy trips to Washington D.C. to advocate for public education.
Moore has extensive experience in building school culture, analyzing student data, classroom technology, grant writing, and more.
William Schmidt, Horizon’s newly appointed principal, expressed enthusiasm about Moore joining the leadership team.
“Patrick’s wealth of experience leading schools, along with the strong relationships he has built with students, staff, and communities, makes him a great fit for Horizon Middle School,” said Schmidt. “He is well known and highly respected among principals across the state, and his genuine care for students, families, and staff stands out. I’m excited to work alongside him as we continue building a culture that supports both academic success and student well-being.”
Moore said he looks forward to joining the Horizon Middle School community and working with students, staff, and families.
“I am honored to join a part of Kearney Public Schools and, more specifically, the Horizon Middle School team. I look forward to carrying the lessons learned from the past 15 years as a building principal, and more recently, Blue Hill, with me on a daily basis. From strong academics to social emotional learning, I look forward to building on the positive culture already established at HMS. With this, I want to help students reach their goals by forming partnerships with all stakeholders.”
Moore will begin his role as assistant principal at Horizon Middle School with the 2026–2027 school year.
