Our People

As the proud Director of the Academies of Belton I am passionate about creating opportunities for ALL Belton students to find their passion, talents, and future success in the workforce and life. I have lived in the Belton community with my wife and 4 sons for the past 20 years. After serving 4 years in the United States Navy I settled in Belton and started my career teaching 7th-grade social studies at Yeokum Middle School. After spending 9 years as an administrator in a neighboring district I was thrilled to return to the Pirate family and take the helm as the Director of Academies.  

Mr. Nick Adkins earned his Bachelor's Degree in 2006 from the University of Missouri. Since then, he has attained his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and Specialist in Administration from University of Central Missouri. He is currently working on his Doctorate from William Woods University. 

Mr. Nick Adkins began his teaching career 18 years ago as a business and marketing teacher at Raytown South High School. He served as a teacher, golf coach, head football coach, athletic director, and was an assistant principal in his last three years at South. 

Mr. Nick Adkins met his wife, a fellow teacher at Raytown South as well. She is currently teaching at Ruskin High School. Together, Nick and Jenna have 3 boys; John-Thomas (8), Jamison (6), Jackson (2) and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this summer. 

Dr. Terri Newman has been in education for 21 years. She was a teacher and counselor at Midland Trail Elementary, where she earned the State of Kansas School Counselor Program of Excellence Award and started the Girls on the Run program. She then served as counselor and cheer coach at Blue Valley North High School, where she sponsored Sources of Strength, a strength-based and upstream approach to mental health promotion and prevention of adverse outcomes. She currently serves as Oswatomie Middle School Principal in the Oswatomie School District.

Dr. Newman earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Baker University. She earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Emporia State University.
 

I am excited to begin my first year at Belton High School during the 2024-2025 school year, marking my 12th year in education. Before joining Belton, I served as both an administrator and teacher in the Raytown School District, where I taught Family and Consumer Sciences at Raytown High School and Raytown South High School. I also held the roles of Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Raytown South High School. Additionally, I was the head volleyball coach at both Raytown High School and St. Teresa’s Academy.

At Belton High School, I am honored to serve as the Academy Principal of the Science and Industry Academy. I am eager to enhance real-world learning opportunities for our students, support our teachers, and engage with the Belton community. Go Pirates!

Mr. Kevin Bair has been in education for fifteen years in the Kansas City 33 School District teaching 7-12 grade English, AP Language and Composition, Journalism, Graphic Design, Photography and Yearbook. He has also coached football and baseball at Northeast High School and Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, and served as athletic director at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. He has served as Assistant Principal at East High School for the last two years.

Mr. Bair earned his education specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and he has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. 
 

I started my teaching career in 1998 in physical education at Yeokum Middle School.  After 3 years, I moved to the high school.  During my years of teaching, I have coached football, boys and girls basketball, and the head baseball coach for 10 years. In  2008, I became the Athletic Director and have since been an administrator at the middle school and now again the Athletic and Activities Director / Asst. Principal at Belton High School. My wife and I are proud to call Belton our home for the past 26 years and where we have one 2023 BHS graduate and a future 2026 BHS graduate.