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Hazelwood Holds Reception to Honor Supt. Chris Wright Nicastro
The Hazelwood School District Board of Education has scheduled a reception for 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, to honor the retirement of Superintendent Chris L. Wright Nicastro.
The reception will also recognize the fact that the State Board of Education has selected Nicastro as the commissioner of education for the state of Missouri. As the lead educational agent in the state, the commissioner heads the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which provides support and leadership for more than 500 school districts statewide.
The reception will be held at The HSD Learning Center, 15955 New Halls Ferry Road. The reception is open to the public. Attendees should RSVP to the communications office at 314-953-5045 or info@hazelwoodschools.org
Wright has been the superintendent for HSD for the past seven years. She was recognized last fall by the Missouri Association of School Administrators as Missouri Superintendent of the Year.
During Wright’s tenure in HSD, the District, through the Hazelwood 1st public engagement initiative, developed a three-phase facility improvement plan resulting in the passage of two bond issues and the opening of four new middle schools.
The District developed common assessments for all core areas, aligned professional development with the accountability system and adopted a new district-wide reading program, writing program, math curriculum, and science curriculum. Furthermore, HSD implemented a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) pre-engineering program in grades 7-12, added full-day kindergarten, renovated 18 elementary schools, added a new library at Hazelwood Central High School and constructed new space for the early childhood and gifted programs.
The HSD Board of Education has selected Mary Piper as interim superintendent. Currently, Piper is the associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She joined the District 10 years ago, first serving as principal of Lawson Elementary School, and then becoming the assistant superintendent for curriculum and professional development. The board will discuss the superintendent search process later this month.
