Here’s what you need to know about your new metro-east school leaders and their salaries
The News-Democrat has contacted area school districts to get information about new administrators hired to work with students and their families this fall.
We published a story in August featuring over 30 new principals in the metro-east, and this is our second roundup that has information regarding 20 new principals and two new superintendents in the region.
Districts were asked to provide the position the administrators had during last school year, their education highlights and their salaries. To see the latest salary information for other public employees from throughout the region, go the BND’s Public Pay Database at bnd.com.
St. Clair County
High Mount School School District 116
School: High Mount School
Principal: April Becherer
Previous position: Principal of Eagleview Elementary in Columbia.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in administration, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $93,324.
Lebanon School District 9
School: Lebanon Jr./Sr. High
Principal: Kimberly Emrick
Previous position: Principal at Centralia Junior High
Education: Learning Behavior Specialist-1 certification, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s in educational administration and leadership, McKendree University
Salary: $95,000
O’Fallon School District 90
School: Amelia V. Carriel Junior High School
Principal: Shanna Y. McHellen
Previous position: Reading & math instructional specialist, Kirkwood, Missouri
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in psychology and a social science endorsement, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s in education leadership, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $98,000
School: Edward A. Fulton Junior High in O’Fallon
Principal: Alex Herrell
Previous position: Assistant principal of Fulton Junior High
Education: Bachelor’s degree in middle school education; master’s in educational leadership, specialists in curriculum design and instruction; doctorate in curriculum design and instruction.
Salary: $105,000
School: Marie Schaefer Elementary School in O’Fallon
Principal: Dan Rudy
Previous position: Assistant principal at Marie Schaefer Elementary School
Education: Associate’s degree, Southwestern Illinois College; bachelor’s degree in education with a major in elementary education and middle school endorsements in mathematics, general science, language arts and social studies, McKendree University; master’s degree in education with an emphasis on educational leadership in administration, McKendree University
Salary: $96,000
Signal Hill School District 181
School: Signal Hill School
Principal: LaSandra Chism
Previous position: Curriculum director for Cahokia School District 187
Education: Bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, Illinois State University; master’s degree in speech pathology, Illinois State University; master’s degree. in education administration, Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
Salary: $115,000
Madison County
Triad School District 2
Superintendent: Jason Henderson
Previous position: Director of finance with Triad School District 2
Education: Bachelor’s degree in math education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; master’s degree in secondary education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; specialist degree in educational administration from University of Illinois Springfield; doctorate in educational leadership from SIUE.
Salary: $161,000
School: C.A. Henning Elementary in Troy
Principal: Colleen Kremitzki
Previous position: Assistant principal at Henning Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; dual master’s degree in social work and educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Has a director of special education endorsement.
Salary: $ 96,000
School: St. Jacob Elementary
Principal: Cynthia Langston
Previous position: Principal of Lalumier Elementary in Cahokia School District 187
Education: Bachelor’s degree in special education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in reading, Grand Canyon University; administration certificate, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $93,000
School: Marine Elementary.
Principal: Christopher Schomber
Previous position: Assistant principal at Silver Creek Elementary
Education: Bachelor’s degree in special education and master’s degree in school administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $88,000
School: Silver Creek Elementary
Principal: Michael Speer
Previous position: Principal at Marine Elementary School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in science education and master’s degree in educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $97,000
Monroe County
Waterloo School District 5
School: Gardner Elementary School in Waterloo
Principal: Angie Huels
Previous position: Principal of Columbia Middle School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from Quincy University; a master’s in instructional technology and an administrative certificate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: $95,000
Clinton County
Breese Elementary School District 12
Superintendent: Ryan Ketchum
Previous Position: Principal of Central Community High School District 71
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education; master’s degree in education administration; education specialist and education doctorate degrees in educational leadership, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $115,000
Carlyle School District 1
School: Carlyle Junior High School
Principal: Jeff Teasley
Previous position: Principal in the Lebanon School District
Education: Bachelor of science, major in history, minor in psychology; master’s degree in educational administration; specialist degree, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Salary: $101,000
Wesclin School District 3
School: New Baden Elementary
Principal: Patrick Weathers
Previous position: Math teacher and varsity basketball coach at Nashville High School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and master’s degree in educational administration and leadership, McKendree University
Salary: $80,000
School: Wesclin Middle School Principal
Principal: Zachary Huels
Previous position: Principal of New Baden Elementary School
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; master’s degree in educational administration and leadership, McKendree University
Salary: $92,000
Belleville Diocese
School: St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic School in Belleville
Principal: Nicole Green
Previous position: Reading interventionist
Education: SIUE/McKendree
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
School: Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in East St. Louis
Principal: Michelle Ruppel
Previous position: Math teacher
Education: Eastern Illinois
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
School: Holy Childhood Catholic School in Mascoutah
Principal: Timothy Keefe
Previous position: Principal at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in East St. Louis
Education: Illinois College/Lindenwood University
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
School: St. Ann Catholic School in Nashville
Principal: Anthony Bodnar
Previous position: Principal of St. John Neumann
Education: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
School: St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Red Bud
Principal: Rhonda Niemeier
Previous position: Eighth-grade teacher
Education: McKendree University
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
School: St. Bruno Catholic School in Pinckneyville
Principal: Michael Buscher
Previous position: Superintendent of Aviston Elementary and associate director of education for Diocese of Belleville
Education: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Salary: Not released by the Belleville Diocese
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
