Three De Soto School District employees will take on new administrator roles as the new school year begins.
April McKinney was hired as the new director of transportation, replacing Eric Young who resigned. Dustin Stockmann was hired to replace Chris Krueger as the new secondary school level assistant principal, overseeing the Innovative Learning Center. Hillary Hensley was hired to fill Stockmann’s previous position of assistant principal at De Soto Primary (formerly Athena Elementary.)
Each began their new position on July 1.
McKinney
The school board voted unanimously on May 21 to hire McKinney as the director of transportation. Young submitted his resignation on May 7 after being the transportation director for three years.
McKinney’s current salary is $39,517.44. As transportation director, she will be making $61,575 a year. Young’s salary had been $64,593.75.
Joshua Phipps, assistant superintendent of school operations, said eight people applied for the position.
“Mrs. McKinney brings years of experience in school transportation,” he said. “She has worked with transportation software, routing, schedules and staffing. She is extremely hardworking, loyal and dedicated to the district. The candidate pool was very strong, and she rose to the top.”
McKinney has worked for the district as a driver and then a transportation administrative assistant since January 2020. Before working for the district, she worked with children and adults with autism and was also a 911 dispatcher.
She said she is excited about the opportunity.
“Having already worked within the department, I understand the important role transportation plays in supporting our students, families and schools, and I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundation that’s already in place,” McKinney said. “Like many school districts, staffing is always something we keep an eye on, and recruiting and retaining quality drivers and support staff will continue to be a priority. While there can be challenges in maintaining a fully staffed department, I see it as an opportunity to share what a rewarding career school transportation can be. We are always interested in connecting with individuals who want to make a positive impact on students and become part of our team.”
McKinney, 34, lives in De Soto and is married to Brandon. They have one son.
Stockmann
The school board voted unanimously on April 23 to hire Stockmann to replace Krueger, who submitted his resignation in April after being hired as an assistant principal at Seckman High School.
Stockmann’s current salary is $72,100 and he will be paid $89,293.75 next year as an assistant principal for secondary students. Krueger had been paid $85,531.25.
Phipps said the position was opened internally. He said a handful of staff applied for the position, and three were interviewed after the screening.
“Dr. Dustin Stockmann brings a diverse background in educational leadership with extensive experience at the secondary level,” Phipps said. “Throughout his career, he has led initiatives focused on high school programming, online and blended learning, alternative education and innovative instructional practices designed to support student success.
“His collaborative leadership style, commitment to continuous improvement and passion for creating meaningful learning opportunities have earned the respect of both students and colleagues. We are confident that his experience and forward-thinking approach will continue to strengthen educational opportunities for students and staff.”
Stockmann had been the assistant principal at Athena Elementary for a year. Prior to that, he taught science at De Soto Junior High. This will be his 17th year in education and his fourth year at De Soto.
Previously, he was an administrator and teacher in the Normandy Schools Collaborative for nine years and four years as an educator in the Hazelwood School District. He has a doctoral degree in education from Lindenwood University, along with other degrees and certificates.
“I am thrilled to be going back to De Soto Middle School and De Soto High School as secondary school assistant principal,” Stockmann said. “With this change I will be also leading the Innovative Learning Center (ILC) and the Dragon Annex programs that we have in the school. There’s a great energy in the school district and I am eager to be a part of this growth and change. It has been wonderful working with the students, staff and families at Athena this last school year, and I am hoping to carry that commitment onto this next school year.”
Stockmann, 39, who lives in De Soto, has a daughter, Diana.
Hensley
The school board voted unanimously on May 7 to hire Hensley, a junior high school math teacher, to fill the vacancy left by Stockmann.
Her teacher salary is $57,750. Her salary as assistant principal will be $72,100.
Phipps said this position was opened internally. He said a handful of staff applied for the job, and two were interviewed after the screening.
“Mrs. Hensley has served in various capacities in the district as a sponsor, on the salary and welfare committee, and has several years of teaching experience,” Phipps said. “Mrs. Hensley is a dedicated and loyal district employee who is ambitious and eager to continue to support the work that (Principal Meagan) Wagner and the team have begun as we develop our primary building.”
Hensley, a 2008 De Soto graduate, has been a sixth grade math teacher at De Soto for the last seven years.
“The first six (years) were at Vineland, and this last year I transitioned with the sixth graders to the middle school,” she said. “I taught middle school math for seven years before coming to De Soto at Northwest and Jefferson R-7.”
She said she is excited to be the assistant principal at Athena as it becomes De Soto Primary, a kindergarten through second grade center.
“I went to Athena as a student, and I am excited to be back,” she said. “I am also looking forward to helping shape our new building and making the transition to a K-2 building great for teachers and families, and helping the youngest students excel in school.”
Hensley, 36, lives in the Festus-De Soto area. She is married to Mike, and they have two children: Addison and Wyatt.