Hillsboro High School Principal Mark Groner will retire at the end of this school year, after 27 years with the district.
Groner, 54. of De Soto has worked in education for 30 years, making him eligible for retirement.
“I also have a son who’s going to graduate this year from Hillsboro High School, so we’re going out together,” Groner said.
“Few individuals have given as much of themselves to our students as Mark Groner over the nearly three decades he worked at the high school,” R-3 Superintendent Jon Isaacson said. “(Groner’s) leadership, care and consistent commitment have made a lasting impact on Hillsboro High School and our district.
“While we will miss him in his role, we know his influence will continue and his heart will always remain with Hillsboro students.”
Groner’s official last day with the district will be June 30. He is paid an annual salary of $134,318.
Three decades of experience
Groner’s career in education began in 1995 as a teacher’s assistant in the Parkway School District. He also spent two years as a social studies teacher at Kingston High School before moving to the Hillsboro R-3 School District.
After six years of teaching social studies for the Hillsboro district, he was named the high school’s director of activities. In 2009, he was promoted to assistant principal at the high school and became the building principal in 2020.
Groner also coached basketball and track during his time as a teacher.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, as well as a master’s degree and specialist degree in educational administration from Missouri Baptist University.
Groner said once he earned his administration degree, he hoped he could work in district leadership.
“I spent the majority of my career here in Hillsboro, (so) it made sense,” he said. “I knew the building well, (and) I knew the district well. I felt like I was qualified and capable of leading the building.”
What’s next?
Once he retires, Groner said he looks forward to having more free time.
“I do enjoy the outdoors; I like to hike, I like to fish, I like to hunt,” he said.
Groner also said he will spend some time working at his family’s business. He and his wife, Debra, own Farmhouse Style Boutique, 101 East Main St., in Festus.
He said he will work with the incoming principal to make the transition as smooth as possible.
On Oct. 30, Isaacson said the district will post the job opening within the next two weeks. He also said district officials hope to hire the new principal at the December Board of Education meeting.
“We are searching for the best candidate to succeed Mr. Groner; this could be an internal or external candidate,” Isaacson said. “We will follow our process with the goal of selecting the best person to lead the high school.”