Bailey Finau will be the new principal at Raymore Elementary School, effective in July. The Ray-Pec School Board approved the hiring at its Feb. 13 meeting.
She is currently an elementary school assistant principal in the Center School District. She was an elementary school assistant principal in the Raytown School District from 2022 to 2024. She also was an elementary summer school principal in 2023 and 2024 in the Raytown School District. Earlier, Finau was a teacher from 2017 to 2022 in Raytown. She was an ELL teacher for a year and a half. She was a 6th-grade reading and English teacher for three years and was a reading specialist for one year.
Before joining the Raytown School District, she worked as a volunteer for the United States Peace Corps, teaching English as a Second Language on a small outer island in the Kingdom of Tonga.
Finau said she is excited about the opportunity to join the Raymore Elementary family.
“I am ecstatic to join the Raymore family!” she said. “I look forward to meeting the staff, students, and families and partnering with them to continue the great work happening at Raymore Elementary."
Director of Elementary Education Dr. Michelle Hofmann said that Finau is dedicated to fostering a strong, inclusive school community where every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
“She brings a collaborative leadership style and a clear focus on driving student growth and achievement,” Hofmann said. “I am excited to welcome Mrs. Finau to our elementary leadership team and to see her build upon the impactful work Mrs. Miller and the staff have done to support our students, families, and staff at Raymore Elementary School.”
Finau earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an endorsement in Elementary Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages. She earned a master’s degree in literacy and an education specialist degree in K-12 Leadership from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in K-12 Leadership from Saint Louis University, St. Louis.
Finau and her husband, Alatini, live in Liberty with their two children: Isi (6) and Losa (3).
She will replace Jennika Miller, who is retiring at the end of the 2024-25 school year.