A changing of the guard is underway at the Hillsboro R-3 School District, where five administrators are retiring at the end of this school year.
The retirees include Hillsboro Junior High Principal Heath Allison; Hillsboro Intermediate Principal Scott Readnour; Hillsboro High-Learning Center assistant principal Jim Ramsey; director of transportation Deb Spiller and food services director Kim Jackson.
The last day on the job is June 30.
“We are grateful for the dedicated service and profound impact these five have had on the Hillsboro R-3 district,” Superintendent Jon Isaacson said. “Their passion and commitment to our students, families and staff have left an enduring legacy within the Hillsboro community. It has been an honor to work alongside such exceptional people, and we will miss them dearly. We wish them all the best in their retirement and know that their contributions will continue to impact our district for years to come.”
For next school year, Bill Murphy, assistant principal at Washington Junior High in the Mehlville School District in St. Louis County, will be the Hillsboro Junior High principal.
Leslie Marchetti, currently the Hillsboro Elementary principal, will take over as Hillsboro Intermediate principal.
Bill Reece, a Festus Middle School seventh-grade social studies teacher, has been named the Hillsboro High-Learning Center assistant principal.
In addition, Eric Detweiler, principal of Frederick School in Graystake, Ill., has been hired to replace Marchetti as the Hillsboro Elementary principal.
Clay LaRue, currently superintendent of the Van Buren R-1 School District in Carter County, has been hired to fill a new position the Hillsboro district has created called senior director of operations, taking over the transportation director and food services director responsibilities Spiller and Jackson had handled, as well as other duties.
Allison
Allison, 50, is retiring after 27 years in education, the last 15 as principal at Hillsboro Junior High. His annual salary is $111,034. Murphy will be paid a $103,103 salary next school year.
Allison said his twin sons, Jonah and Josh, are graduating from Hillsboro High School this spring, so he decided to retire at the same time.
“I thought it would be nice as the boys leave high school to find something a little less stressful to do. Also, to do something a little more active.”
In addition, Allison said he and his wife, Sara, intend to continue to follow Jonah and Josh in their college athletic pursuits.
“Our boys will continue to compete in track (distance runners) at SIU-Carbondale,” Allison said.
“We’re looking forward to watching their meets.”
Allison and his wife, Sara, live in the Hillsboro area and have two other children, Megan and Luke.
Allison started his career in education teaching math at Windsor High School before moving to Hillsboro Junior High, where he was an assistant principal for two years before becoming the school’s principal in 2008. He also coached basketball and softball during his career.
“I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Hillsboro community,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my 17 years here. I’ve met a lot of fascinating people who are friends to this day.”
Readnour
Readnour is retiring after 19 years as the Hillsboro Intermediate principal. His salary this school year is $109.231. Marchetti will be paid $99,498 in the job next school year.
Readnour spent 21 of his 31 years in education working in the Hillsboro district. In his first two years with the district, he was assistant principal at Hillsboro High.
“I’ve been doing this a really long time,” he said. “I love what I do and who I do it with and for, but it is now time for super-talented, hardworking people to take over and take the district further down the path.”
Before joining Hillsboro R-3 schools, Readnour was a Lindbergh high school teacher and basketball coach from 1998 to 2002 and a math teacher and basketball coach at Herculaneum High School from 1992 to 1998.
He said spearheading an effort to make Hillsboro R-3 a POW/MIA Designated Campus in 2020 was one of his top accomplishments while working for the district..
“I’m really proud of the district giving back to the community. I hope to continue in the efforts to raise awareness (about POW-MIAs).”
Readnour, 55, and his wife, Annette, have three children and live in Festus.
He said he has not yet decided what he will do during his retirement.
“I’ve got some things in the works,” he said. “I would like to continue to help serve the district and the community.”
Ramsey
Ramsey has spent his entire 22-year career in education in the Hillsboro School District, the last four years as Hillsboro High-Learning Center assistant principal. His annual salary is $97,695. Reece will be paid an $86,520 salary.
“Really, I’m at a point where I still enjoy my career and want to go out on top,” Ramsey said of his decision to retire.
He actually switched careers a long time ago. “I was a deputy juvenile officer Jefferson County for six years before coming to Hillsboro R-3,” Ramsey said. “The Juvenile Office handles any criminal behavior by anyone under the age of 17.”
Prior to his job as Hillsboro High-Learning Center assistant principal, he worked as a guidance counselor at Hillsboro Junior High for six years, an assistant principal at Hillsboro Elementary for six years and an assistant principal at Hillsboro Junior High for six years.
He said while he is retiring from education, he will keep working.
“I own a metal-cutting business where we design signs,” he said. “I plan on continuing with that, Destination Metal Design in Festus.”
However, Ramsey said he will take more time for leisure. “I’m just going to slow down a bit,” he said. “I’ll take a few more camping trips, go kayaking.”
Ramsey, 54, and his wife, Jamie, live in Festus. They have three sons.
“It’s really been a pleasure to serve the community and the families of Hillsboro,” he said. “I’ve received as much as I’ve given. It’s been very rewarding.”
Spiller
Spiller has worked for the district for 41 years. She is being paid $69,841 this school year. LaRue, as senior director of operations overseeing the departments Spiller and Jackson have headed, will be paid an anticipated salary of $109,231.50, Isaacson said.
“I started as a substitute driver in 1981,” Spiller recalled.
Spiller rose through the ranks to become the district’s director of transportation.
She said she has always felt welcomed at the district.
“It’s always been that way with the staff and the parents and the students,” she said. “It’s like your second home.”
Spiller said she does not have any set retirement plans other than to spend more time with her family.
“I don’t really have retirement plans,” she said. “I’ll just be able to attend some family functions with my grandchildren and do some volunteer work.”
Spiller, 68, lives in Hillsboro. She has three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Jackson
Jackson is retiring after 24 years working for the Hillsboro district. Her annual salary is $73,160.
“I started out in a part-time position in food service, became full time and, then, director,” she said. “My job involves getting vendors, planning meals, making budgets.”
Jackson said government regulations had a significant impact on school food services during her career.
“Over the years, it changed big time,” Jackson said. “There are mandates for what we can serve, how much we can serve.”
However, she said the Hillsboro district has always provided healthy meals for students.
“I feel our kids at our schools have always eaten fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Jackson, 57, and her husband, Steve, live in Hillsboro and have two children.
She said her main retirement plans are to visit family.
“I want to spend more time with my grandchildren and to travel, while I can still enjoy it,” she said.