Long-time East St. Louis educator and principal dies
Tryphena Cason, principal of Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis, died.
Cason died Sunday, the district said. St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. confirmed Cason died of cancer.
In a statement sent on Monday afternoon, the district does not provide details of Cason’s death, but rather focuses on how she lived.
“As a proud and passionate member of the East St. Louis School District 189 community, Mrs. Cason led with heart, leaving a profound and lasting legacy in the lives of the students, families and colleagues she served,” Superintendent Arthur R. Culver said in the release.
Cason worked at District 189 for over a decade, the release says. She became principal of Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary at the start of the 2023-24 school year, after serving as the assistant principal at James Avant Elementary. The release says Cason was previously a teacher in the district.
During her first year as principal of Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary, the school improved its Illinois State Board of Education summative designation score by more points than any other district school, the release notes. This ranking considers a variety of factors, including academic growth, proficiency and school climate.
The release says this achievement is “a testament to (Cason’s) relentless focus on student success.”
In a questionnaire for new principals published by the BND last year, Cason detailed an extensive education at multiple area universities including Webster University in St. Louis and Lindenwood University.
Grief resources
As summer school is in session, the district’s Social Emotional Learning Team will be at Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary this week to support students and staff, said Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, the district’s executive director of communications. She added Hoyleton Youth and Family Services will also be onsite this week for grief support.
District 189 also can connect students and their families with a variety of mental health resources, including referrals, Stigge-Kaufman said. One option is Hazel Health’s no-cost online therapy program. For more information on available support, contact an individual school or the district office and ask to speak with a social worker.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM.