The Northwest R-1 School District will spend less on administrator salaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
The district expects to spend a total of $3,782,871.68 on administrator salaries this school year and $3,688,682.82 next school year, a difference of $94,188.86.
In the upcoming school year, the district will employ 35 administrators, down from 37 administrators in the 2022-2023 year, which ends June 30.
“We have not filled two administrator positions that were vacated through resignation or retirement this past year, as we continue to ‘right-size’ to meet our decreased enrollment over the past four years,” Superintendent Jennifer Hecktor said. “We believe we have the appropriate number of administrator positions for the size of our district to both ensure student safety as well as to provide support to teachers, staff, students, and families.
“We will use the 2023-2024 school year to monitor and assess our ability to absorb the two positions that we intend to eliminate.”
The two unfilled positions are a high school assistant principal and an administrator position in the technology department, Hecktor said.
Northwest district spokesman Chuck McPherson said the Board of Education recently extended Hecktor’s contract for another year and gave her a 2.5 percent pay increase, raising her annual salary to $184,500 for the 2023-2024 school year.
All other administrators received a 3.4 percent raise during the March Board of Education meeting. Certified and classified staff also received an average 3.4 percent raise during the same meeting.
Hecktor said staffing shortages have been a concern for all employers, including school districts, and in order to remain competitive, Northwest raised its starting teacher salary from $39,000 to $40,000 and provided raises for all staff.
“With all of our categories of employees, we do constant market analysis to remain competitive with our neighboring districts,” Hecktor said. “We believe we are competitive in Jefferson County in all positions.”
The Northwest district’s biggest expense is employee salaries, and in 2023-2024, the district expects to spend $43,891,691 on them.
A list of the Northwest district’s administrators and their salaries for next school year follows.
2023-2024 administrators
- Jennifer Hecktor, superintendent, $184,500
- Doréan Dow, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, $135,390.31
- Grace Green, assistant superintendent of elementary schools, $134,417.93
- Mark Catalana, chief human resources officer, $130,444.48
- Mark Janiesch, chief operating officer, $130,444.48
- Cynthia Spurgeon, Cedar Springs Elementary School principal, $129,297.05
- Stella Viehland, Northwest High School building principal, $128,840.74
- Susan Wingenbach, director of early childhood, $124,724.82
- Mary Smith, executive director of student services, $123,598.36
- Jennifer Baugh, Northwest High School assistant principal, $114,793.11
- Angela Ritzel, House Springs Elementary School principal, $114,606.49
- Jennifer Younkins, director of administrative services, $113,764.45
- Heidi Mackey, High Ridge Elementary School principal, $113,022.40
- Amanda Berry, Northwest High School assistant principal, $110,720.02
- Elizabeth Green, Woodridge Middle School principal, $106,972.68
- Spencer Storey, Valley Middle School principal, $106,972.68
- Aubrey Bauer, Maple Grove elementary principal, $106,592.28
- Adam Dotson, Northwest High School assistant principal, $101,055.30
- Jennifer Sohn, Northwest High School assistant principal, $99,414.96
- Kimberley Sult, director of instruction, $98,926.27
- Gretchen Gorgal, Murphy Elementary School principal, $96,063.56
- Pamela Helferstay, Woodridge Middle School assistant principal, $95,751.50
- Zachary Pizzullo, director of technology, $95,544.70
- Kyle Wampler, director of athletics, $95,109.18
- Angela Flick, Woodridge Middle School assistant principal, $90,216.91
- Travis Dierker, director of financial services, $89,367.79
- Amy Martin, instructional coordinator, $89,036.91
- Ann Hammond, Brennan Woods Elementary School principal, $88,581.60
- Warren Schaffer, director of facilities, $87,424.29
- Robert DePung, Valley Middle School assistant principal, $85,900
- Charles McPherson, coordinator of communications and community relations, $82,031.26
- Marcie Williamson, special education process coordinator, $81,140.88
- Ann Frankowski, director of health and wellness, $77,059.88
- Ann Sewald, custodial supervisor, $68,029.96
- Amanda Santure, school aged child care manager, $58,925.59