Geggie Elementary School will officially say goodbye to its longtime principal at the end of this month, and two administrators will shed interim titles at the start of the next school year.
Mary Kleekamp, who has been Geggie’s principal since 2006, will retire Feb. 28. She has been on a leave of absence for health reasons since the start of this school year.
During Kleekamp’s absence, Daniel Hannon, who had been the building’s assistant principal, has been the interim principal, and Timothy Rebholz has been the interim assistant principal.
The Rockwood School District’s Board of Education voted Feb. 9 to promote Hannon and Rebholz and to remove “interim” from their titles starting July 1, the district announced Feb. 10.
The board also voted unanimously Jan. 19 to approve Kleekamp’s retirement.
Kleekamp
After 30 years in education, Kleekamp said she is ready to enjoy life at a little slower pace.
Kleekamp lives in Labadie with her husband, Kurt. They have two daughters who are college students.
“I plan to follow my girls in their sports and activities, and to travel as much as I can,” she said.
Kleekamp, 56, said she enjoyed her time at Geggie.
“I always felt so lucky to just give my heart and soul to the students, families and incredible staff,” said Kleekamp, whose salary was $159,088.79 entering this school year. “I couldn’t believe I was being paid for something that was so important and fun to me.
“It’s absolutely been the best 17 years in my professional career. The Geggie staff are talented, caring and exceptional individuals. They are the true reason behind my success as a school leader.”
First-year Superintendent Curtis Cain said he has never met Kleekamp, but he recognizes the tremendous footprint she left behind at Geggie.
“She is absolutely beloved at Geggie Elementary School,” Cain said. “That building stands where it stands because of her contributions. She is cherished in that building and in this district. She is absolutely going to be missed and we wish her all of the best.”
Under Kleekamp’s tenure, Geggie has been recognized as a Missouri School of Character and National School of Character three times. She also was named Missouri’s Distinguished Principal in 2013.
“This is a very emotional transition, bittersweet as they say. It’s hard to leave something so good,” Kleekamp said. “However, I am confident my staff is in the best position to move forward together and continue this amazing work into the future. I couldn’t be more proud to have been a part of this amazing school community.”
Kleekamp said, most of all, she will miss the children at Geggie.
“The hugs, the smiles, the confidence in knowing that I was always there for them,” she said. “I will miss helping them and championing them through school life and beyond.”
Kleekamp began her career in education in 1992. Before becoming the Geggie principal, she was the assistant principal at McKelvey Elementary School in the Parkway School District.
Hannon
Hannon assumed the role of interim principal for the 2022-2023 school year due to Kleekamp’s absence.
“I want to continue the work that has made Geggie a school with a strong sense of community and great character,” he said. “I want Geggie to be a place where students feel welcomed and loved.”
Hannon, 41, will be paid $130,806.14 as principal. His salary as the interim principal is $126,078.21.
He was the assistant principal at Geggie Elementary for four years, and before that, he taught in the Ferguson-Florissant School District for 13 years.
Cain said Hannon has what it takes to be a successful leader.
“He has been in the chair since July, and Geggie has had a really good year,” Cain said. “Dan is a known quantity, although he will be in a different role than he has had in the past. I think he has the attributes to be successful at Geggie. That is a building with a very deep tap root in this district and when things go well there, it is a testament to not only the administrative staff, but the entire faculty of Geggie Elementary School.”
Hannon said he looks forward to honoring Kleecamp’s legacy and building his own.
“Dr. Kleekamp was an unbelievable mentor,” he said. “I learned so much from her about what it means to be a leader. She created a community of hard-working, loving, caring staff and students during her tenure at Geggie.
“I am incredibly honored to be given this leadership opportunity at Geggie. It brings me great joy to know that I can continue to be a part of such a wonderful school community,”
Hannon lives in O’Fallon with his wife, Janna, and their two sons.
Rebholz
Rebholz, 39, was named Geggie’s interim assistant principal at the start of this school year.
“Dan (Hannon) has done a fantastic job as the (interim) head principal of Geggie,” Rebholz said. “And I heard nothing but great things about Mary (Kleekamp). It’s obvious how much they (Geggie staff and students) loved and respected her.”
Rebholz will be paid $107,929.73 as assistant principal. He is paid $104,028.66 as interim assistant principal.
“I went into this role at the beginning of this school year as I would have regardless of the ‘interim’ title attached to my position,” Rebholz said. “And it is definitely nice to know that my time thus far at Geggie has been positively received.”
Before his current role, Rebholz was the administrative intern at Blevins Elementary for three years. Prior to that, he taught second grade in the Mehlville School District for 12 years.
“I am excited to continue to work with such wonderful people,” Rebholz said. “My focus will continue to be Geggie’s growth and success.”
Cain commended Rebholz for his hard work at the school.
“Dr. Rebholz is going to do a good job,” Cain said. “He’s been there since July 1. He and Dan (Hannon) are going to form a very solid and impressive team at Geggie. They have already been doing the work, literally the entirety of the school year. Geggie has had a great year, and I think in many ways that is reflective of the work, investment and connections they (Rebholz and Hannon) have built at Geggie.”
Rebholz lives in south St. Louis County with his wife, Tracy, and four children.