Alex Rouggly, Jefferson High School’s director of student services, will be the school’s next principal.
Rouggly, 40, is slated to take over as principal on July 1, when current Principal David Haug moves up to deputy superintendent. Haug is expected to head up the district as superintendent when Clint Johnston retires at the end of the 2023 school year.
“Both of these guys (Rouggly and Haug) are qualified professionals with years of experience in public education,” Johnston said. “They both have invested in the district for years, working to help our students and community succeed.
“At a time when administrators are leaving the profession in record numbers, it’s exciting to have professionals who want to lead our school district in the coming years.”
Haug said he is looking forward to his new job.
“I have worked with Mr. Haug and Mr. Johnston for seven years, and I feel fortunate to have learned so much from both of them, especially about leadership,” Rouggly said. “I am excited to help grow the excellent standards they have helped establish for this district.”
There were nine candidates for the principal job, six were interviewed, and the Jefferson R-7 Board of Education voted 7-0 in a special meeting on Wednesday to promote Rouggly to the position.
He currently makes a $70,000 annual salary as director of student services and will make $95,000 next school year as principal.
Haug’s annual salary as principal is $116,000, and his salary as deputy superintendent will be $125,000. Johnston is paid a $167,000 annual salary as the district’s superintendent.
During Rouggly’s seven years with the R-7 district, he has worked as a teacher, head football coach and athletic director, and beginning last school year as the director of student services. He previously taught in the Hillsboro R-3 School District for 10 years.
Rouggly has a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College and a master’s degree in educational administration from Missouri Baptist University, where he is working on an educational specialist degree.
He is the son of longtime district residents Steve and Cina Rouggly and attended district schools through the eighth grade.
“This is my home; I was raised here, went to school from kindergarten on here, so it’s near and dear to my heart,” he said. “I want kids to leave here with that same feeling, and to feel they can come back and be a part of the R-7 family.”
Rouggly said the district soon will begin looking for his replacement, who likely will be paid a similar salary to his current one.
“The final number will be based on the person’s education and experience,” he said. “We’ll open up the position internally and see what kind of interest we have. Then we’ll potentially open it to external candidates, and get started with the interview process. The goal is to have someone in place in the near future.”
Rouggly is married to Melanie Rouggly, principal of Bayless High School. They have two children who attend R-7 schools.