John DeWalle is the newest member of the Windsor C-1 Board of Education.
Board members voted 5-0 to approve DeWalle for the position at a special meeting Oct. 30, and DeWalle was sworn in on Nov. 15.
DeWalle replaces Dan Shaul, who announced in August he was resigning from the seat because he was moving out of the district.
The board voted to accept his resignation Sept. 27.
Shaul, who had served on the board since 2011, won his latest three-year term during the April 2023 election.
DeWalle will hold the seat until the April 2024 election, when the last two years of the seat will be on the ballot along with a pair of regular three-year seats.
Michael Dubis, the board president, said DeWalle’s experience in education impressed board members as they chose him from a field of three strong applicants.
“All three were very qualified,” Dubis said. “In the interview process, Mr. DeWalle’s experience as a school administrator stood out. He’s got 20 years of experience in education.”
DeWalle, 44, is director of college and career readiness for the Mehlville School District in St. Louis County.
“I’ve never held elected office,” he said. “I thought it was an opportunity to use some of the skills I’ve obtained in my career and serve the school district in the community where I live.”
He said he and his family have lived in the Windsor C-1 district for 11 years. He and his wife, Tabitha, have three children.
“We have three sons, two who’ve graduated from Windsor and one who’s a freshman at Windsor High School,” DeWalle said. “Michael and Daniel have graduated and Joey is the freshman.”
He said he does not yet know if he will file for the April 2024 election to keep his seat. “I’m going to wait and see,” DeWalle said.
Board member Chris Casey did not attend the Oct. 30 and Nov. 15 board meetings.