Welcome to Platte County High School!
Dr. Kiel Giese
Principal
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Kiel has been with the Platte County School District since 2012 where he taught Social Studies at PCHS until 2020. In the 2020-2021 school year, he moved into an Assistant Principal role at PCHS until 2023 and where he moved into the Interim Principal to start the 2023-2024 school year. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science & Public Administration from Missouri Valley College. Prior to teaching at PCHS, he taught at Excelsior Springs High School, and he has filled several roles within the Platte County School District. Mr. Giese received his master's degree in Athletics/Activities Administration and specialist degree in Administration from William Woods University. He is currently completing the necessary requirements to earn his doctorate in Educational Leadership. Outside of the classroom, Kiel has been the assistant coach for wrestling, soccer, strength & conditioning, and track at PCHS. He is a 2001 graduate of PCHS and is excited to continue his career where he grew up. Kiel and his wife Shannon have one daughter, Teigan, and two sons, Liam and Canten.
Matt Messick
Assistant Principal
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As one of your assistant principals here at Platte County R-3 High School, let me introduce myself. I am Matt Messick, and my journey in education has taken me through Mound City, Missouri, and Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville as a student and West Nodaway, Fairfax, and Bowling Green School Districts as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. Since 2014, though, I’ve been an assistant principal here at Platte County. It’s good to be a Pirate, and everyday I want to help our students find success.
You see, I believe that success in education mirrors success in life, so teaching how to be successful in the post secondary world is the prime function of high school. I truly believe that success in high school is a reliable, albeit not infallible, predictor of a future successful career and fulfilling personal life. Therefore, I take my job seriously because I want to be a part of helping our students find success. My role as assistant principal focuses on creating and maintaining student/staff support services, fostering a positive school climate, and finding ways to embed Real World Learning opportunities.
While faith, family, and friends guide my vision, I have found success in following three basic principles: being patiently persistent, adopting an attitude of service, and making value-based decisions. I have found that these principles certainly create positive results in and even beyond our classrooms here at Platte County R-3.
You will see some of my family members at many Pirate activities. My wife, Corrie, is a St. Luke’s neonatal nurse, and we’re proud of senior son Grady, sophomores Hayden and Reagan, who are Liberty Blue Jays, and Pirate 4th graders Garyn and Kolt, as well as our silver lab Moose.
Dr. Mandi Tolen
Assistant Principal
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Dr. Mandi Tolen has more than 20 years of experience in education as a middle and high school math, ELA, and technology teacher, and as a district technology coordinator and began serving as an assistant principal at PCHS in 2023. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Missouri Western State University, master’s degree in information science and learning technology from the University of Missouri, and Specialist and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from William Woods where she also serves as an adjunct professor and dissertation committee member. Dr. Tolen shares on two educational blogs, a video podcast, and is the author of Make Math Not Suck.
Dr. Tolen strives to make school a place students want to learn and grow. She believes in accountability with grace, and uses research based practices, instructional technology, and data to increase student engagement and learning. Mandi reads, plays video games, creates t-shirts, sews, and loves to spend time with her children when they are home. Her oldest daughter graduates from medical school at the end of May, her second daughter lives in Kentucky, her third daughter works for Honeywell as a chemical engineer, and her son is in college. Her husband Jason is retiring from education after 28 years. Mandi is looking forward to working with the team at Platte County High School and building relationships with teachers, students, and the community.
Morgan Scheib
Assistant Principal
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With 15 years of experience in education, Morgan has served as a high school English teacher, Assistant to the Principal, and most recently, as the Instructional Coach at Platte City Middle School. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Missouri. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership through Arkansas State University. Morgan is passionate about fostering a positive school culture and supporting both students and staff in their growth and success. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, and their two daughters. She is eager to collaborate with the PCHS community and looks forward to an exciting year ahead!