Learn about new school leaders in southwestern Illinois, including background and salaries
By Mike Koziatek and
Kelly Smits
Collage photo showing some of the new administrators in schools across the metro-east.
Photos courtesy of schools
Belleville News-Democrat
Students across the metro-east will see new school administrators for the 2023-24 school year.
In an effort to help parents and students learn about the new school leaders, the Belleville News-Democrat has contacted over 70 public school districts and private schools to collect information about new administrators in St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Clinton, Bond, Washington and Randolph counties.
One public school district and one private school did not release information as requested multiple times. They are: Bond County School District 2 and Trinity-St. John Lutheran School in Nashville.
The News-Democrat has sent a Freedom of Information Act request to Bond County. This public school district is subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act request while Trinity-St. John Lutheran School is not since it is a private organization.
The following schools have released the following information about their new superintendents and principals:
St. Clair County
Belle Valley District 119
School: Belle Valley Middle School
Principal: Khari Grant
Previous position: Middle school administrator, Carbondale Middle School
Education: BA, The Ohio State University; MSEd, University of Dayton; EDD, Oakland City University.
Salary: $98,000
Belleville School District 118
School: Roosevelt Elementary School
Principal: Bernita Matory-Lister
Previous position: Principal, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Education: Bachelor of science, communication disorders and sciences, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Master of arts, teaching, Lindenwood University; Educational specialist degree, reading specialist, Lindenwood University; Educational specialist degree, elementary and secondary administration, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $121,835
Bernita Matory-Lister is the new principal at Roosevelt Elementary School. Provided
School: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Principal: Monet Webster
Previous position: Principal, Central Junior High School
Education: Bachelor of arts, speech communication, McKendree University; Master of arts, educational technology, Lindenwood University; Master of arts, school administration, Lindenwood University; Educational specialist degree, superintendent licensure, McKendree University.
Salary: $131,683
Monet Webster is the new principal at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. Provided
School: Central Junior High School
Principal: William “Bill” Wright
Previous position: Assistant principal, Central Junior High School
Education: Bachelor of science, special education, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Master of arts, educational administration, Lindenwood University.
Salary: $108,054
Bill Wright is the new principal at Central Junior High School. Provided
Belleville School District 201
School: Belleville West High School
Principal: Malcolm Hill
Previous position: Associate principal, Belleville East High School
Education: Bachelor’s degree, special and elementary education, 1995; Master’s degree, curriculum and instruction, National Louis University, 1997; Master’s degree, educational administration, Lindenwood University, 2006; Specialist, central office leadership, Missouri Baptist, 2015; Doctorate, educational leadership, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2019.
Salary: $145,000
Malcolm Hill is the new principal at Belleville West High School. Provided
Brooklyn School District 188
Superintendent/Principal: Connie McCartney
Previous position: Principal, Brooklyn School District 188
Cassy Shelton is the new principal at Dawn Elser Elementary in O’Fallon. Provided
Dupo School District 196
School: Bluffview Elementary School
Principal: Kyle Baker
Previous position: Teacher and assistant principal, St. Louis Public Schools
Education: Bachelor of arts, journalism, Sam Houston State University, 1998; Teaching certificate, high school English, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2004; Master of arts, educational administration, Lindenwood University, 2008; Doctor of education, educational leadership, Maryville University, 2017.
Salary: $92,000
Kyle Baker is the new principal at Bluffview Elementary School. Provided
East St. Louis School District 189
School: Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis
Principal: Tryphena Cason
Previous position: Assistant principal, James Avant Elementary School in East St. Louis
College degrees and years earned: B.S, information systems technology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2000; M.B.A. with emphasis in management, Webster University in St. Louis, 2002; M.A., teaching, Lindenwood University, 2009; M.A., education administration, Lindenwood University, 2012
Salary: $99,870
Tryphena Cason is the new principal of Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis. Provided
School: East St. Louis Senior High School
Principal: Brittany Green
Previous position: Principal, Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis
Education: Bachelor of science, elementary education (K-9), Harris Stowe State University, 2006; Master of education, educational leadership, Lindenwood University, 2010; Educational specialist, educational leadership (superintendency), Lindenwood University, 2012; Doctor of education, educational leadership, Maryville University, 2019.
Salary: $135,000
Brittany Green is the new principal at East St. Louis Senior High School. Erica M. Brooks/Business Pluss++ Photography
School: Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence (K-8)
Principal: Kim Jones-Riley
Previous position: Associate principal, East St. Louis Senior High School
Education: Bachelor of science, education, major, elementary education, endorsement, English language arts and social studies, minor, sociology; Illinois State University, May 1996; Master’s degree, education administration, area of study-school leadership, superintendency endorsement in the state of Illinois, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, May 2002; Education specialist degree, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, May 2009; Education administration doctor of education degree, area of study - instructional leadership, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, doctoral degree conferment anticipated December 2023.
Salary: $126,782
Kim Jones-Riley is the new principal at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence (K-8) in East St. Louis. Provided
Harmony-Emge School District 175
Superintendent: Dustin Nail
Previous position: Superintendent/principal, Damiansville Elementary School District 62
Tiffany Zurliene is the new principal at Freeburg Elementary School. Provided
Lebanon School District 9
Superintendent: Amanda Ganey
Previous position: Pre-K-12 building principal, West Washington School District 10 (Okawville Grade School/Okawville Junior/Senior High)
Education: Bachelor’s degree, elementary education, McKendree University, 2009; Master’s degree, curriculum and instruction, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2012; Master’s degree, administration, McKendree University, 2019; Specialist, superintendency, St. Louis University, 2022; Doctorate, leadership, St. Louis University, 2023.
Salary: $115,848
Amanda Ganey is the new superintendent at Lebanon School District 9. Provided
Mascoutah School District 19
Superintendent: Dave Deets
Previous position: Superintendent, Harmony-Emge School District 175
Education: Bachelor’s degree, elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2003; Master’s degree, educational administration, McKendree University, 2007; Specialist degree, educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2013; Doctor of education, curriculum design and instruction, McKendree University, 2021.
Salary: $170,000
Dave Deets is the new superintendent at Mascoutah School District 19. Provided
School: Wingate Elementary School
Principal: Kim Enriquez
Previous position: Principal, Mascoutah Elementary School
Education: Bachelor of science, elementary education, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1996; National board certification, 2000; Master of science, educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2002; Superintendent’s licensure, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2014.
Salary: $120,000
Kim Enriquez is the new principal at Wingate Elementary School. Provided
School: Mascoutah Elementary School
Principal: Michelle J. Cooley
Previous position: Assistant principal, Mascoutah High School
Education: Bachelor of science, sociology, East Texas Baptist University, 2008; Master’s degree, secondary education, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2012; Master’s degree, educational leadership and design, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2017; Doctorate, social justice in education, set to confer May 2024.
Salary: $104,000
Michelle J. Cooley is the new principal at Mascoutah Elementary School. Provided
O’Fallon School District 90
School: Carriel Junior High School
Principal: Dan Foehrkolb
Previous position: Principal, Washington Middle School
Education: Bachelor’s degree, education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2013; Master’s degree, educational administration, McKendree University, 2007; Specialist degree for superintendent, Western Illinois University, 2007; Doctoral candidate for educational doctorate, Aurora University, expected in 2024.
Salary: $105,000
Dan Foehrkolb is the new principal at Carriel Junior High School. Provided
School: Moye Elementary School
Principal: John Bannister
Previous position: Assistant Principal, Alton High School
Education: Bachelor of arts, psychology, Quincy University, 1996; Master of science, educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2012; Doctor of education, educational leadership, Maryville University, 2022.
Salary: $112,000
John Bannister is the new principal at Moye Elementary School. Provided
Pontiac-William Holliday School District 105
Superintendent: Brian Arteberry
Previous position: Chief school business official at Highland School District 5
Education: Bachelor of Arts, history, Eastern Illinois University, 2004; Masters of Science, education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2008; Chief school business official, Northern Illinois University, 2012; Education specialist, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2019; Doctorate, education leadership, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2020.
Salary: $133,500
Brian Arteberry is the new superintendent of Pontiac-William Holliday School District 105. Provided
Wolf Branch District 113
Superintendent: Nicole Sanderson
Previous position: Assistant superintendent at Wolf Branch District 113
Education: B.S., kinesiology, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; M.S., special education, SIUE; Ed. S., educational administration, SIUE.
Salary: $80,000
Doug Kirk is the new principal at Maryville Elementary School. Provided
Granite City School District 9
School: Mitchell 3-4 Education Center in Granite City
Principal: Jody Batson
Previous position: Principal, Grigsby Intermediate School in Granite City
Education: Bachelor of science, elementary education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1993; Master of arts, education, McKendree University, 2011.
Salary: $155,902
Jody Batson is the new principal at the Mitchell 3-4 Education Center in Granite City. Provided
School: Grigsby Intermediate School in Granite City
Principal: Steven Mathes
Previous position: COVID renewal and innovation coordinator, Granite City School District 9
Education: Bachelor of arts, English, Illinois College, 2001; Master of science, educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2014.
Salary: $146,910
Steven Mathes is the new principal at Grigsby Intermediate School in Granite City. Provided
School: Granite City High School
Principal: Tim McChristian
Previous position: Principal, Du Quoin High School
Education: Bachelor of arts, social science with teacher certification, Eastern Illinois University, 1992; Masters of science, educational administration, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2000.
Salary: $122,532
Tim McChristian is the new principal at Granite City High School. Provided
Highland School District 5
Schools: Alhambra Primary School/Grantfork Elementary School
Susie Schaefer-Kronk is the new principal Alhambra Primary School and Grantfork Elementary School. Provided
Venice School District 3
School: Venice Elementary School
Principal: Jeanna Outerbridge
Previous position: Transitions teacher, East St. Louis School District 189
Education: Bachelor of Science, education and human services, Northeastern University in Boston, 1997; Master of Art, special education, Webster University in St. Louis; Master of Art, education leadership, McKendree University in Lebanon, 2019; Currently studying for EdS, superintendence licensure, McKendree University.
Jason Rakers is the new principal at Okawville High School. Provided
Private schools
Belleville Diocese
School: St. Mary in Chester
Interim Principal: Brad Colvis
Previous position: Young adult ministry
Education: Bachelor of science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1997; Master of Divinity, Cranmer Theological House, 2000; Licentiate in Sacred Theology, International Theological Institute, 2018.
Salary: Undisclosed, private school
Brad Colvis is the interim principal at St. Mary in Chester. Provided
School: St. Joseph Catholic School in Freeburg
Interim Principal: Kris Hill
Previous position: Official with the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education
