Former intern returns to Belleville West as new assistant principal

Belleville West High School has a new assistant principal joining its administration this school year.

Staccy Lampkin, of Swansea, has spent the past several years of her career in administrative roles in nearby school districts. But, unlike being an assistant principal, these positions didn’t always allow her to work closely with students.

“Previously, I worked more directly with a team of people like the school counselors — the college and career counselors — who would then be working with the students,” Lampkin said. “This is directly facing the students … I’m hoping that some of my previous experience can definitely (elevate) what they already have at West.”

Lampkin, who interned as a counselor at West approximately 15 years ago, said she is particularly excited to work with West’s freshmen. Multiple assistant principals typically share the class, but the district is still in the process of figuring out the coming school year’s structure, District 201 Superintendent Marshaun Warren said.

“I’m hoping to work with those students and help them explore the possibilities of what their futures (could) look like,” Lampkin said.

Lampkin said much of her role will include supporting teachers with curriculum, lesson planning, strategies, resources and more to ensure students get the best education possible. She’ll also work with counselors and social workers too, she said.

Lampkin comes to District 201 from Cahokia Unit School District 187, where she was the assistant director of career and technical education. The bulk of her career before then was in East St. Louis, having worked as a school counselor and administrator for District 189 and, earlier, at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School.

The starting salary for Lampkin’s position at West is $102,500, Warren said. She was officially hired at Monday’s board meeting.

More new principals, admin in Belleville School District 201

Lampkin’s appointment comes alongside several other administration shifts. Warren officially started as superintendent July 1, replacing Brian Mentzer when he left the district for Millstadt Consolidated Community School District 160.

Joe Rujawitz is now Belleville East High School’s principal, with Krysten Harres stepping into his former role as the school’s associate principal. Andrea Gannon, who was Belleville East’s principal last school year, is the district’s director of human resources.

Brent Whipple, previously the district’s director of special education, is now an assistant principal at The Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence (or CAVE). Whipple replaces Rashida McKinley, who is now an assistant principal at Belleville East.