The Fox C-6 School District has filled two leadership roles for next school year.
Kristin Darnell has been promoted from assistant principal to principal at Rockport Heights Elementary School in Arnold, and McCluer High School Activities Director Dave Kastrup will be the new assistant principal and activities director at Seckman High School in Imperial.
Darnell will replace Janine Hueter, who has been Rockport Height’s principal since 2005 and will retire at the end of this school year.
Kastrup will replace Tracy Schmidt, who has been the activities director and an assistant principal at Seckman High since 2022 and has been named the district’s first chief operating officer. The COO position was created for the 2025-2026 school year to replace the chief financial officer position after Chief Financial Officer Amy Vandevender resigned on Oct. 31.
Darnell’s salary for next school year will be $113,000. Her salary as assistant principal this school year is $91,268. Hueter’s salary as Rockport Heights principal this school year is $147,987.
Kastrup’s salary at Seckman High will be $126,765. His salary at McCluer High is $119,350.10.
Schmidt’s salary this school year is $107,374, and he will be paid an annual salary of $145,000 as COO.
Board of Education members voted unanimously in a Feb. 20 closed session to promote Darnell and hire Kastrup.
Darnell
Darnell, 44, of Imperial has worked at Rockport Heights for the past 19 years. She started working there as a physical education teacher in 2006, and she has been the school’s assistant principal since 2017.
She began her teaching career in 2004 as a Valley Middle School physical education teacher in the Northwest R-1 School District.
“I’m incredibly honored to be selected for this role,” Darnell said. “I love these kids. They are my kids. I love our staff members. They are my family. I hope everyone will continue to see how dedicated I am to this community, and I can’t wait to continue and hopefully finish my career here at Rockport.”
District officials said six people applied for the principal position, and three candidates were interviewed.
Dustin Bain, assistant superintendent for elementary education, said Darnell stood out among the candidates.
“The first thing that stands out is Kristin’s personal and professional commitment to the Rockport community for 19 years,” Bain said. “That commitment shows a passion and love to support a community over time. Another thing that stands out is her commitment to professional development and growth. Kristin is always looking to attend workshops and conferences to further her learning, and then also serve as a mentor to other assistant principals throughout the Jefferson County and St. Louis area. Kristin had this day in her mind for a long time and has prepared professionally, however she could, to earn this opportunity.”
Darnell, a Seckman High School graduate, has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s degree in education from Lindenwood University, and an education specialist-superintendent degree from Missouri Baptist University.
She said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Rockport Heights, adding that her relationships with staff, students and families will help her with the transition to the principal role.
Darnell said she also is happy to get to work alongside Hueter for the rest of this school year and prepare for the new role.
“I am soaking up every day I have left with Janine,” she said. “She has a wealth of knowledge. I want to make sure I get those last-minute questions in, even though I know she will be just a phone call away. She has been my mentor. She has prepared me for this.”
Bain said Fox C-6 officials hope to fill the newly vacant assistant principal position at Rockport Heights by the end of this month or in early April.
Kastrup
Kastrup, 40, of Florissant started his teaching career in 2008 as a physical education and health teacher at McCluer North High School and has been McCluer High School’s activities director since 2017. He also was a Project Lead The Way and career and technical education teacher at McCluer North before moving into the administrative position at McCluer High.
Kastrup was a member of coaching staffs at McCluer North for 11 years, working with the girls track and field team and the football teams. He said he is familiar with Seckman High due to his current school competing against the Jaguars in the Suburban Conference.
He said he was interested in the job at Seckman High due to its recent athletic success.
“I know they have had some successes and their program is growing,” Kastrup said. “Their student participation rates are high, and its seems like a great climate. As an AD, that is what we strive to be a part of.”
Kastrup earned an associate degree in education from St. Louis Community College, a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Lindenwood University, a master’s degree in educational leadership and an education specialist in educational leadership-superintendency degree from Arkansas State University.
Fox district officials said 24 people applied for the Seckman High assistant principal and activities director position and six candidates were interviewed.
Tammy Cardona, assistant superintendent for secondary education, said Kastrup was a good choice.
“The experience David brings to Seckman was one of the standout characteristics when compared to the other candidates,” Cardona said. “He has had the experience of building teams, working with coaches and with student athletes and families. His focus on ways to build athletics and activities across the board at Seckman High School to reach more students was a big standout as well.”
Kastrup said he will work with coaches to see what their teams need to be successful, and he is happy Schmidt will be part of the district to provide advice.
“My role will be to get kids involved and to support the coaches so they have the tools and resources to put together the teams,” he said. “(Schmidt being the COO) is a very exciting point for me. When I took this job at McCluer, I came into a position that the AD had vacated for a couple of months already. I was still teaching, and that was a lot to handle. I am excited about coming in and working with someone who has filled the role before, is familiar with what we go through as ADs and I already have a relationship with him.”
Kastrup said he and his wife, Emily, have three children – Scarlett, 6; Bryce, 4; and Beau, 2.