All 20 Festus R-6 administrators and directors received 1.6 percent pay raises this school year as part of the school district’s new district budget that began July 1 and runs through June 30, 2026.
Superintendent Nicki Ruess receives the highest annual salary among the district’s administrator and directors, earning $193,047 this school year, which is up from the approximately $189,000 she was paid the previous school year. The lowest pay among the administrators and directors is $66,000, which both transportation director Charles Partney and food service director Dereon Hill earn this school year.
Ruess reported that the salary increases for the administrators and directors will cost the district about $43,079 more this school year.
The administrative and director pay raises are smaller than the 4.46 percent increases given to teachers and other certified staff members and the 7.4 percent raises given to noncertified staff members. The district has a total of 440 employees.
Ruess said the certified staff pay raises will cost the district an extra $938,175 this school year, and the noncertified staff increases will cost $505,764 more. Altogether, employee raises will cost the district $1,487,018 this school year.
The employee compensation increases include not only salary adjustments, but also a 7 percent increase in insurance premiums and higher employer contributions to retirement systems, she said.
Ruess said the administrators and directors got smaller raises than certified and noncertified staff this school year “to ensure equity and balance.”
“It is worth noting that administrative raises were less than those of teachers and support staff, underscoring the district’s continued effort to ensure equity and balance across all employee groups,” she said. “The district also remains in compliance with a multi-year agreement with its certified staff collective bargaining group, which includes annual salary increases, continued benefits and generous tuition reimbursement.”
Ruess said the district must offer competitive compensation to recruit and keep quality employees.
“One of the most important investments we can make as a school district is in the people who serve our students every day,” she said. “Competitive salaries and benefits are essential to attracting and retaining high-quality educators, support staff and administrators. When we’re able to offer compensation that reflects the professionalism and dedication of our employees, we position ourselves to build a strong, stable workforce committed to long-term student success.
“In today’s educational landscape, districts are competing for a limited pool of qualified professionals. Maintaining salaries and benefits near the top in Jefferson County helps ensure that Festus R-6 continues to be a destination district for talented individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children.”
The following is a list of the district’s administrators and directors and their salaries for the 2025-2026 school year.
Nicki Ruess, superintendent, $193,047
Jonathan Earnhart, assistant superintendent, $163,678.84
Denise Funston, assistant superintendent, $145,400
Karl Shininger, high school principal, $143,713.54
Darin Siefert, elementary school principal, $134,970.20
Spencer Kearns, intermediate school principal, $121,595.24
Jacob Munoz, middle school principal, $111,650.66
Josh Bauman, director of technology, $101,655.20
Cara Pellerin, student services director, $99,801.08
Deanna Brown, assistant intermediate school principal, $97,249.07
Sauny Benack, assistant elementary school principal, $92,939.14
Jason Therrell, athletic-activity director, $91,950
Tammy VanEtten, assistant high school principal, $86,500
Matt Gurnow, assistant high school principal, $85,000
Austin Burgert, assistant middle school principal, $85,000
Steven Copeland, maintenance-custodial director, $83,500
Kevin Pope, communications coordinator, $82,516.05
Samantha Mouser, Early Childhood Education director, $80,000
Charles Partney, transportation director, $66,000
Dereon Hill, food service director, $66,000