Fox C-6 School District officials recently named a new elementary school principal and two new assistant principals.
Paul Husch was hired as the next Seckman Elementary School principal; Alicia Uhl was promoted to be the next Ridgewood Middle School assistant principal; and Rob Anthony was hired to be an assistant principal at Fox High School.
Board of Education members voted during a Feb. 4 closed session to name the three to the new jobs, which they will begin on July 1.
Husch, an administrative intern at Rockwood School District’s Center of Creative Learning, will replace Seckman Elementary Principal Dan Baker, who is retiring at the end of this school year. The Fox district will pay Husch $113,000 next school year. His salary at Rockwood is $84,434. Baker is paid $141,087 this school year.
Uhl, an eighth grade math teacher at Ridgewood Middle, will replace Ridgewood assistant principal Angie Baker, who also is retiring at the end of this school year. Uhl’s salary next year will be $85,000. She is being paid a $68,881 salary as a teacher this year. Angie Baker earns $115,384 this school year.
Anthony, an assistant principal at Clinton High School, will move into the Fox High assistant principal role currently held by Joe Salsman, who will take over as Fox High principal next school year after Ryan Sherp retires. Anthony’s annual salary at Fox C-6 will be $102,400. His salary at Clinton High is $95,500. This school year Salsman is paid $131,865 as assistant principal and Sherp is paid $148,755 as principal.
Salsman’s salary for next school year will be $138,538.
Husch
Husch, 38, of Sappington said he looks forward to working regularly with the same group of students and families.
“The center I am at now is different families every day,” he said. “It (Center of Creative Learning) is wonderful, but you don’t get that same type of connection as when you see the same kids and families every day.”
Husch began his career in education in 2012 as a physical education and reading teacher in the Wabash Community Unit School District in Mount Carmel, Ill.
In 2014, he taught math at Bourbon Middle School in Crawford County R-1 School District, and he worked at McKinley High School in the St. Louis Public School District from 2015 through 2017.
In 2018, he started teaching at Kennerly Elementary School in the Lindbergh School District, working in the school’s PEGS (Profoundly and Exceptionally Gifted Students) program. He began working at the Center for Creative Learning in 2022.
Husch earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Illinois State University, a master’s degree in gifted education and an education specialist degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University and a doctorate degree in education leadership from William Woods University.
Husch was one of 12 applicants for the principal positions, and Fox C-6 interviewed four of them, district officials said.
“The first thing that stuck out to us was Dr. Husch’s commitment to his own education and past experiences,” said Dustin Bain, assistant superintendent of elementary education. “By completing four separate degrees, Dr. Husch exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner.”
Husch said he is thankful for the opportunity to lead an elementary school for the Fox district.
“I am an external candidate, and it takes some trust,” he said. “I am thankful for them extending that trust to me, and I will not let them down.”
Husch and his wife, Rachelle, have a daughter, Lily, who is in middle school.
Uhl
Uhl, 42, of Oakville has taught at Ridgewood Middle for the past 13 years, and she also taught at the school from 2006 through 2011.
She said her familiarity with the school will help her make the transition to her new job as assistant principal at Ridgewood.
“Typically, assistant principals need a year to get to know the staff and building, and I already know what our greatness is and what we can improve on” she said.
Uhl has spent her entire career at Fox C-6.
She started by running a behavior intervention support team at Ridgewood Middle, and she was a second grade teacher at Meramec Heights Elementary School for the 2011-2012 school year. She returned to Ridgewood Middle for the 2012-2013 school year and taught seventh grade math before teaching eighth grade math starting in 2023.
Uhl earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Phoenix. She was one of 38 people who applied for the assistant principal job, and Fox C-6 interviewed seven candidates, district officials said.
“Mrs. Uhl was a standout amongst the other candidates because of her dedication to Ridgewood Middle School and the focus she has had for years on making Ridgewood an inviting environment for staff and students,” said Tammy Cardona, assistant superintendent of secondary education.
Uhl, who has been Ridgewood Middle’s math department lead since 2020, said that position and her role on various committees will help her transition to the administrative role.
“I feel like I have already earned their (Ridgewood Middle teachers) trust as a leader,” she said. “When I was trying to get this position, many coworkers told me how they wanted me to get it.”
Uhl and her husband, Roy, have four children: Camden, 13; Parker, 11; Nixon, 8; and Teagan, 6.
Anthony
Anthony, 51, said being named an assistant principal at Fox High is like a homecoming for him.
He taught history at the school from 2005 through 2018.
“I am not from Arnold, but I spent 13 years (at Fox High) as a teacher and loved it. I am happy to be able to come back,” he said.
Anthony started his career as a history teacher at Parkway South High School in 2004 before moving to Fox High and then took a job as assistant principal at Clinton Middle School at the start of the 2018-2019 school year before being named the Clinton High School principal in 2023.
Anthony earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from Missouri Baptist University, a master’s degree in education administration from Missouri Baptist University, and a doctorate in history from Master’s International University of Divinity.
He was one of 41 people who applied for the assistant principal position, and six candidates were interviewed, district officials said.
“Dr. Anthony was a standout candidate for the Fox High School assistant principal position due to his experience in the role as assistant principal, as well as his passion for students and Fox High School,” Cardona said.
Anthony said he is looking forward to coming back to Fox High and working with Salsman.
“Joe being the principal was a draw, and coming back to Fox was a draw. Getting to work with some former colleagues was a draw as well,” Anthony said.
Anthony and his wife, Renee, have two grown children.
He said he and his wife plan to move to the area.