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The Hazelwood School District Board of Education recently approved several recommendations for administrators, effective for the 2013-14 school year. Lisa Strauther and  Jeff Haug have been named assistant superintendents.

“I am pleased with the variety of experience that Dr. Strauther and Dr. Haug bring to the team,” said Supt. Grayling Tobias. “I look forward to working collaboratively with them in our efforts to improve academic achievement in HSD.”

Strauther has more than 17 years of educational experience and has been the principal of Jamestown Elementary School since 2008. She previously served as interim principal at Jana Elementary School, as well as an elementary assistant principal. She has also taught first, second and third grades.

A graduate of HSD, Strauther earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Harris-Stowe State College and her master’s degree in educational administration from Lindenwood University. She earned her doctorate in educational administration from Maryville University. She will replace Dr. Ty McNichols, who has resigned to take the position of superintendent in the Normandy School District.

Haug has more than 13 years of educational experience and has served as the principal of Wright City Middle School since 2010. He previously served as the director of support services and principal in the Winfield School District. He served two years as the freshman class principal and two years as a social studies teacher at McCluer North High School. He also has experience coaching baseball, basketball and soccer.

Haug holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Truman State University. He holds a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Lindenwood University. Haug will fill an assistant superintendent position that has been left open for the past two years. The District will help fund the position by not filling the School Improvement Grant facilitator and professional development facilitator positions.

The Board also approved several recommendations for elementary principals.

Erik Melton has been chosen as the new principal for Garrett Elementary School.  Melton has more than 10 years of experience in education, serving the past five years as the principal of Louisiana Elementary in the Louisiana R-II School District. In addition to serving as the principal of Louisiana Elementary, his duties include serving as the K-12 gifted coordinator, federal programs coordinator and PAT coordinator.

Evelyn Woods has been chosen as the principal for Grannemann Elementary School. Woods has more than 10 years of educational experience, serving the past three and a half years as a turnaround principal at Sigel Elementary School in St. Louis Public Schools. She previously served as the principal at Big Picture Elementary School in SLPS and as a principal intern. She has taught middle school communication arts, and previously worked as a social service worker and juvenile officer.

Valerie Taylor has been chosen as the new principal for Jamestown Elementary School.   Taylor has more than 25 years of experience in education, serving the past two and a half years as an instructional coach at Hazelwood Central High School.

She previously served as a curriculum facilitator, principal, assistant principal and lead technology supervisor for the St. Louis Public Schools. She has taught at the elementary and middle school level.

Gerald Williams has been chosen as the new principal for Jury Elementary School. Williams has more than 10 years of educational experience, serving the past year and a half as the principal of the Monroe eMints Academy in St. Louis Public Schools.

He previously served three years as an administrative intern in the Rockwood School District.  He taught at the elementary level in SLPS and the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Shanise Terrell has been chosen as the new principal for Keeven Elementary School. Terrell has more than 14 years of educational experience, currently serving as principal at Glasgow Elementary School in the Riverview Gardens School District.

Paul Alvord has been chosen as the new principal for Russell Elementary School. Alvord has more than 23 years of educational experience, serving the past year and a half as an assistant principal at Hazelwood Central Middle School. He previously spent three years as the president of the Hazelwood National Education Association.

Maxine Valdez has been chosen as the principal of Townsend Elementary School. Dr. Valdez has more than 31 years of educational experience, serving the past five years as the director of the HSD Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. She previously served as the principal at Grannemann Elementary School, and she served as a principal and assistant principal in Springfield, MO.

John Koeneker has been chosen as the new principal of Walker Elementary School. Koeneker has nearly nine years of educational experience, serving the past year and a half as an assistant principal at Hillsboro Primary School. He previously served two years as the instructional specialist at Jamestown Elementary School. He also taught math for two years at Hazelwood Southeast Middle School, and taught fifth and sixth grade for three years at Townsend Elementary School. Koeneker also teaches math at St. Louis Community College.

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