Meet new school principals in southwestern Illinois. Learn their backgrounds and salaries
Students from across the metro-east have new principals for this school year, and the Belleville News-Democrat has reached out to area districts to get information to help families learn more about the new school leaders.
This roundup includes new administrators in St. Clair, Madison, Monroe and Clinton counties as well as the Springfield Diocese schools in Madison County.
Information regarding new leaders from several other school districts could not be obtained and will be published after the BND can get confirmation from the districts.
Districts were asked to provide the position the principals had during last school year, their education highlights and their salaries. To see the latest salary informatin for other public employees from throughout the region, go the BND’s Public Pay Database at bnd.com.
Here’s a report from area school districts that have responded to the BND’s request:
St. Clair County
Belleville School District 118
School: Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Principal: Bernita Lister
Previous position: Assistant principal, Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and sciences, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; master’s degree in teaching, Lindenwood University; educational specialist degree, reading specialist, Lindenwood University; educational specialist degree, elementary and secondary administration, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $116,376
School: Jefferson Elementary
Principal: Jacob Halde
Previous position: Assistant principal, Triad Middle School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education with biology emphasis, McKendree University; master’s degree in educational administration and leadership, McKendree University; educational specialist degree (superintendent licensure), McKendree University.
Salary: $112,554
School: Union Elementary
Principal: Kalynn Larsen
Previous position: Assistant principal at Belleville East High School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education, Lewis University; master’s degree, Lindenwood University; director of special education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and University of Phoenix; educational specialist degree (superintendent licensure), Arkansas State University.
Salary: $112,554
Schools: Washington Elementary and Henry Raab Elementary
Principal: Jamey McCloskey
Previous position: Principal at Jefferson Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Illinois State University; master’s degree, educational leadership, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $121,827
Cahokia School District 187
School: Ninth grade at Cahokia High School
Principal: Gerold Nave Jr.
Previous position: Middle School director
Highest level of education: Master’s degree in educational administration, Lindenwood University
Salary: $100,455
School: Tenth grade at Cahokia High School
Principal: Nathaniel Porter
Previous position: Principal of Estelle Sauget School of Choice
Highest level of education: Educational specialist, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: $103,500
School: Twelfth grade at Cahokia High School
Principal: Terence Tate
Previous position: Seventh grade principal
Highest level of education: Master’s in educational leadership, McKendree University
Salary: $99,884
School: Wirth Middle School
Principal: Phyllis Slack
Previous position: Principal of the Academic Character Development Center
Highest level of education: Master’s in educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: $123,162
School: Seventh grade at Wirth Middle School
Principal: Andrew Keller
Previous position: Physical education teacher
Highest level of education: Master’s degree in educational administration, Grand Canyon University
Salary: $87,898
School: Estelle Sauget School of Choice
Principal: Felicia Rush-Taylor
Previous position: Ninth grade principal
Highest level of education: Educational specialist, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: $113,040
School: Lalumier School
Principal: Valeska Hill
Previous position: High school head principal
Highest level of education: Master’s in educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: $112,540
School: Academic Character Development Center
Principal: Demario Bell
Previous position: Tenth grade principal
Highest level of education: Master’s degree in educational administration, Lindenwood University
Salary: $101,989
East St. Louis District 189
School: Katie Harper Wright Elementary
Principal: Mica Ike
Previous position: Assistant principal at Katie Harper Wright Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in speech communication, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in speech communication, Southern Illinois University; elementary education certificate from SIUE; an educational administration principal preparation program at SIUE.
Salary: $99,000
School: Mason-Clark Middle School
Principal: Renaldo Jackson
Previous position: Assistant principal at East St. Louis Sr. High School
Education: Educational specialist degree in K-12 administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $101,000
Marissa School District 40
School: Marissa Jr./Sr. High School
Principal: Melissa Meyer
Previous position: Principal at Chester High School.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in secondary health education with a minor in psychology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; master’s degree in education, educational administration and leadership; specialist in education superintendent licensure, McKendree University.
Salary: $90,000.
Mascoutah School District 19
School: Mascoutah High School
Principal: Amy Kelly Johnson
Previous position: Director of curriculum and instruction for Bethalto School District 8.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in mathematics and a concentration in teacher education, as well as a special education endorsement, Governors State University; master’s degree in educational leadership and specialist in education and superintendent licensure, McKendree University.
Salary: $116,000
School: Scott Elementary School
Principal: Kellen Kettwich
Previous position: Assistant principal at Scott Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history education, McKendree University; master’s degree in educational leadership, McKendree.
Salary: $101,000
Smithton School District 130
School: Smithton Elementary
Principal: Stacy Belosi
Previous position: Response to intervention coordinator and instructor at Millstadt School District 160
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree, SIUE.
Salary: $80,000
Madison County
Edwardsville School District 7
School: Woodland Elementary
Principal: Kelli Pirtle
Previous position: Assistant principal in Waynesville, Missouri
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; a master’s degree in education in educational and instructional leadership, Columbia College; educational specialist degree in educational leadership from William Woods University; has professional educator certification as principal (all levels in Illinois and K-8 in Missouri) and elementary education (1-6 in Illinois and Missouri).
Salary: $80,000
School: Lincoln Middle School
Principal: Rusti Blount
Previous position: Program specialist for special education in Georgia
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration; a master of education in special education; postgraduate principal certification, Wayland Baptist University; doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in transformational leadership, Concordia University in Texas.
Salary: $93,887
School: Worden Elementary
Principal: Nancy Werden
Previous position: Educational services coordinator in Staunton School District 6
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in educational leadership and a specialist’s degree, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $94,998
Granite City School District 9
School: Frohardt 3-4 Education Center
Principal: Karen Robertson
Previous position: Interim principal at Frohardt
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in education leadership, McKendree University; education specialist in curriculum design and instruction, McKendree.
Salary: $149,185
School: Wilson 1-2 Education Center
Principal: Jayson Baker
Previous position: Instructional coach, Sangamon-Menard County Regional Office of Education 51
Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and teaching, Southeast Missouri State; Master’s degree in educational leadership and administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $108,673
Venice School District 3
School: Venice Elementary School
Principal: Roshion Mckinley
Previous position: Assistant principal with East Louis School District 189
Highest level of education: Master’s in educational administration
Salary: $103,000
Springfield Diocese schools in Madison County
School: Holy Family School in Granite City
Principal: Brooke Bjorkman
Previous position: Grade school teacher in Florida
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, St. Louis University; master’s degree in educational leadership, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: Not released by the Springfield Diocese
School: Marquette Catholic High School in Alton
Principal: Timothy J. Harmon
Previous position: Interim principal at Marquette
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history with a secondary education teaching certificate, a master’s degree in history, and is working on his education specialist degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: Not released by the Springfield Diocese
School: St. John Neumann Catholic School in Maryville
Principal: Russell Hart
Previous position: Teacher at Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon
Education: Bachelor’s degree in industrial technology, Ball State University; master’s degree in school administration, University of North Texas; a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Wright State University.
Salary: Not released by the Springfield Diocese
School: St. Mary School in Alton
Interim Principal: Elizabeth Hogg
Previous position: Dean of students at St. Mary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: Not released by the Springfield Diocese
Monroe County
Columbia School District 4
School: Columbia Middle School
Principal: Dawn Mueller
Previous position: Principal at Marissa Jr.-Sr. High School
Education: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Salary: $90,000
School: Eagleview Elementary School
Principal: Erica Venne
Previous position: Upper School Director at City Academy in St. Louis
Education: Illinois College (undergraduate), Washington University (master’s); Southern Illinois Edwardsville (endorsement).
Salary: $75,000
Clinton County
Central High School District 71
School: Breese Central High School
Principal: Roger Freeze
Previous position: Principal at Wesclin Middle School for 13 years
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Quincy University; master’s degree, Eastern Illinois University
Salary: $115,000
This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
