Bert Kimble is leaving his post as superintendent of Jefferson City Schools.

"The kids want to excel, I think it's internal, it comes from their parents the coaches support it they want to win I want them to win it's something to behold," he said.

Bert Kimble has been watching Jefferson City sports for a dozen years.

"Twelve wonderful years, it's been a great run," he said.

A great run featuring several state champions.

"That's the hook to get them interested, motivated to tune them in academically and that coach can be a conduit to tune them back to academics," Kimble said.

Kimble says academics begin at home with the parents, and a child's education can be positively or negatively impacted by bus drivers, even school cooks and of course, teachers.

"When we hire teachers we break it down in three ways: losers, potential winners and winners. We want potential teachers we can teach and winners," he said.

Kimble is leaving his office on his own accord.

The average tenure for a superintendent in this country is two and a half years, many are fired.

"I think it's personality, the inability to connect with the school board and community," Kimble said.

So when there's fussing between the superintendent and the board who should win?

"The students should win, the teachers if there's harmony, but if there's a problem between the superintendent and the board it impacts the students negatively. It filters down the system," he said.

In a few short weeks, Kimble may become an education lobbyist at the State Capitol, where he'll bring a message.

"I think the idea that private education is better is a fallacy. Private education has its place. We have excellent private schools in this district but the idea the General Assembly has that private is better, they don't have the data to back that up," Kimble said.

He also says districts like Jefferson City become scapegoats for much bigger issues.

"This perception that public schools are doing a poor job I think goes to the urban schools. So let's separate it out and deal with urban education and let's acknowledge the wonderful job that rural and slightly larger, say Jefferson City and Columbia, do with their students day in and day out," he said.

In this instance urban refers to the two largest metropolitan areas in the state. Kimble says if you're failing in Kansas City and St. Louis, don't take it out on Jefferson City.

Bert Kimble's last day is June 30.

The new superintendent is Brian Mitchell. He's originally from Bolivar, Mo. He leaves the Independence, Mo., school district for the Jefferson City job.