The incoming Windsor High School principal will need no introduction when she takes over the job next school year.
Rachel Montgomery, who has been the Windsor High assistant principal for 19 years, has been promoted to principal, replacing Principal Jason Naucke, who is retiring at the end of this school year after seven years in the position.
The Windsor C-1 Board of Education voted unanimously in a Feb. 22 closed meeting to promote Montgomery to the high school principal job, Superintendent Jason King announced after the regular meeting that followed the closed session.
Montgomery will see her annual salary increase from $132,157 as assistant principal to $137,500 as principal, King said.
Naucke’s current salary is $136,190.
King said Montgomery was selected from three applicants for the job.
“We’re thrilled Dr. Montgomery is stepping into the position of high school principal,” King said. “Her passion for kids and academic excellence is evident every day. We’re looking forward to her doing great things at the high school.”
Montgomery, 50, said she’s looking forward to the new challenge.
“I’m beyond excited to have this opportunity,” she said. “We have a great staff, a great community and great students.”
Montgomery said she feels at home at Windsor High School.
“I’ve been invested in the school community for 19 years and I’m familiar with the obstacles and challenges we have in front of us, and we will work through those,” she said.
Montgomery said she appreciates the board voting to promote her to principal.
“It’s an honor,” she said. “I take great pride in it.”
Prior to her job as Windsor High assistant principal, Montgomery worked as a teacher at Ridgewood Middle School in the Fox C-6 School District for five years.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, a master’s degree in education from SEMO and a teaching certificate and a doctorate in education from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis County.
She and her husband, Steve, live in Arnold with their two daughters, Piper and Peyton.