Longtime Fox C-6 staffer Tammy Cardona will be examining and influencing the school district in a broader way starting July 1.
In a split vote on May 14, the Board of Education promoted Cardona, currently principal of Seckman Middle School, to be the district’s next assistant superintendent in charge of secondary education.
Board members Steve Holloway and Scott Stewart cast the no votes, and board member Dawn Mullins was not present for the vote, which was held in closed session.
The job became available when current assistant superintendent Nisha Patel was named the next superintendent on Jan. 29. She will also move up on July 1.
“I’m very excited,” said Cardona, whose career in education started at Fox in 1999. “Not many people get to have their whole career in one school district. I feel like I have been blessed to not only work in the school district, but work in a school district that my own children went through and graduated from.”
Cardona was hired as a third-grade teacher at Antonia Elementary School in August 1999.
She worked there, teaching various grade levels, until 2005, when she became an assistant principal at Ridgewood Middle School.
Cardona became an assistant principal at Fox High School in 2006 before moving to Seckman High School in 2009, also as an assistant principal. She became principal at Seckman Middle in 2010.
“Based on the information I had, I did not believe Dr. Cardona to be the best candidate for the position,” Stewart said, when asked about his no vote. “That being said, I hope she will do an excellent job for our students and the district, and I wish her all the best.”
Holloway did not respond to an email asking for comment about his vote.
Cardona, 51, of Hillsboro will be paid $135,000 as an assistant superintendent. She was paid $132,563.51 this school year.
“Dr. Cardona comes to us with a lot of experience,” Patel said. “She has been at the elementary level, middle school level and high school level. When you look at her wealth of experience, she is going to be a great addition to the district in this new role. She will be able to understand what students need to transition from elementary to middle school and how we can support students as they transition to high school.”
Cardona said her goals in her new position will be to make sure students are supported and are in a safe environment.
She also said it will be important that school staff members receive professional development opportunities and feel supported by the district.
Cardona said she also will emphasize meeting the community’s needs.
“When they (parents) send their students to us, they are sending us the thing that means the very most to them,” she said.
Cardona said Patel will be a good guide, since Cardona is stepping into Patel’s shoes.
Patel has served as assistant superintendent in charge of secondary education at Fox since July 2016.
Patel said Cardona offers a fresh perspective.
“To me, it is always about continuous improvement,” Patel said. “Whenever we hire individuals for positions, we want to look at how that person can make our district stronger and provide our kids with more opportunities. I believe Dr. Cardona will be able to do that for us.”
Cardona said her new job will require a districtwide focus, rather than concentrating on a single building.
“I will go to where I’m serving seven buildings, including our alternative school,” Cardona said. “It is going to be an exciting challenge.”
Jobs posted internally
The assistant superintendent position was open only to current Fox employees. Also on May 14, the board approved the internal hire of Jeff Krutzsch from assistant principal at Seckman High to that school’s principal. That job also was open only to internal candidates.
On its website, Fox has also posted the Seckman Middle principal and Seckman High assistant principal jobs as available only to internal candidates.
“Districts can take different philosophies based upon what they believe is right at the time,” said Superintendent Jim Wipke, who will leave Fox to become superintendent for the Ladue School District at the end of June.
“There are times that the board and administration feel like they need external people to bring in new and fresh ideas.
“There also are times in a district when I think the Board of Education and administration can say we have a lot of good internal people right now, let’s grow our own and promote from within.
“The board is ultimately the one that hires and makes a decision. It is our job (administration) to support that decision.”
Patel said recent decisions to hire in-house are not directly linked to voters’ rejection on April 2 of Proposition S, a bond issue tied to a 40-cent property tax increase. The measure needed a 4/7 (57.14 percent) majority, but fell short with a 54.74 percent yes vote.
“I wouldn’t say that would be a goal,” Patel said, when asked if the district could save money by promoting from within. “Anytime you have something like Prop S fail, you are going to look at a lot of things.You are going to look at finance and ways we can have some savings.
“Does this help in terms of a domino effect (where current staff members are promoted so the district hires a new teacher instead of a new employee at the administrative level) that could occur? Yes. But I would not say that was the goal in hiring these two individuals.
“We went through the interview process and came up at these two candidates. I wouldn’t say it is because we are trying to cut cost and hire at a lower salary. We went in there wanting to find the best person for the job. Ultimately, the Board of Education makes the decision to hire individuals.”
Cardona said her connection with the district will be an asset in her new job. She and her husband, Ty, are parents of three Seckman High graduates: Trisha (Cardona) Fribis, Tyler Cardona and Travis Cardona.
“I’m honored to serve our district,” Cardona said. “I know I have big shoes to fill. I feel that God has blessed me with a great job, up to this point, and a great staff. I will work hard and make sure I do this district proud.”