Fort Zumwalt schools selects new superintendent
O'FALLON, Mo. — Fort Zumwalt School District has chosen one of its own to lead the district.
Henry St. Pierre will transition from deputy superintendent to superintendent of schools on July 1 after Paul Myers retires after two years in the top job.
St. Pierre is only the ninth superintendent in Fort Zumwalt's history. The 16,800-student district saw a decadeslong tenure under Bernard DuBray, who retired in 2023 after serving for 38 years.
District officials touted St. Pierre's success in minimizing the impact that a "tight" job market has had on Fort Zumwalt.
The district decreased certified teacher departures by 46% in the first year of a school improvement plan St. Pierre was integral in creating. Support staff departures decreased 16%.
"Henry was an integral part of writing the CSIP (Continuous School Improvement Plan) that we have and leading the formulation of the key priorities," Board of Education President Erika Powers said in a statement. "He has been a big part of the changes in staff retention and he has a lot of ideas for the future."
St. Pierre has served in a variety of roles at Fort Zumwalt since 1996. He started as an English teacher at North High and later became assistant principal at West High. He earned a Masters in Administration and Doctorate of Education from Lindenwood University.
St. Pierre's promotion marks the second of seven superintendent vacancies local school districts have looked to fill amid a national educator shortage. The leaders of Kirkwood, Parkway, Webster Groves and KIPP St. Louis charter schools will all retire after this school year. St. Louis Public Schools still has an interim leader with Millicent Borishade, but the district has not announced a search for a permanent leader.
Last week, Wentzville School District announced Brian Bishop will replace former Superintendent Danielle Tormala after serving in an interim capacity since April.
At Fort Zumwalt, St. Pierre said he'll focus his first year on the district's CSIP, which district officials said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has used as a model for other districts in the state.
"We believe that for a successful school or a successful organization you have to have a positive culture," St. Pierre said in a statement. "It makes everything else that follows come a little bit easier."
