Festus High social studies teacher Matt Gurnow will be an assistant principal next school year.
The Festus R-6 Board of Education voted unanimously Dec. 19 to promote Gurnow to the assistant principal position. He will replace Joel Roth, who will retire at the end of the current school year.
The position drew 25 applicants, R-6 spokesman Kevin Pope said.
Gurnow, a 2009 Festus High graduate, has taught at Festus High the last eight years. In addition, he has served at the school as an assistant varsity softball coach and a junior varsity baseball coach, as well as sponsored its Future Teachers of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes clubs.
Prior to coming to Festus R-6 to teach, Gurnow worked for three years in the West Plains School District and one year in the St. Clair School District.
“As a Festus alumni and someone who grew up here, I’m just excited to continue having a positive impact on our schools and community,” Gurnow said.
Gurnow, 34, said he is making about $70,000 as a teacher, coach and club sponsor and will see his salary increase to $80,000 when he becomes the high school assistant principal as of July 1.
He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a master’s degree in educational administration from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. He said he is working on a specialist in administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
Gurnow said while it will be difficult for him to leave behind teaching and coaching, he looks forward to joining the district’s administrative staff.
“I’m definitely going to miss teaching in the classroom and coaching on the field,” he said. “But I’m excited for the new opportunities and challenges that come from administration.”
Festus High Principal Karl Shininger praised Gurnow.
“We are excited to bring Mr. Gurnow on board as our next assistant principal,” Shininger said. “He has been a part of the Festus community almost his entire life and has shown leadership in his various roles over the last eight years.”
Gurnow and his wife, Nicole, live in Festus and were expecting their first child the week of Jan. 12.