Rockwood School District Superintendent Eric Knost will head north when his time with the district ends after this school year.
Knost announced late Tuesday night (Feb. 12) he accepted the position of superintendent for the Lewis Central Community Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He made the announcement on Rockwood’s website, and Lewis Central announced his hiring on its website.
Knost said in the announcement that he accepted the position Monday night (Feb. 11).
“This is a much smaller district, with approximately 3,000 students,” Knost said in the website statement. “I have met some very welcoming LC students, staff, parents and community members, and I am thrilled for this wonderful opportunity to provide leadership and work alongside them as their next superintendent.”
On Oct. 11, 2018, Knost, 53, announced he was retiring from Rockwood, which is the third- largest district in Missouri with 20,964 students. His final day with Rockwood is June 30.
Knost has served as the district’s superintendent since 2014.
On Feb. 7, the Rockwood Board of Education unanimously voted to hire Mark T. Miles as the district’s next superintendent.
Miles, 47, is currently the superintendent at Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Miles, one of the 24 applicants for the top job at Rockwood, will start July 1. He will be paid a $225,000 annual salary, plus benefits.
Knost’s salary for this year is $256,790.85 this school year.
Today (Feb. 13), Lewis Central officials said the district is still working on finalizing its contract with Knost. District officials anticipated the contract to be completed by Monday (Feb. 18).
Lewis Central selected Knost out of 28 candidates to replace is current superintendent, Mark Schweer, who is retiring June 30.
“We are extremely delighted that Dr. Knost has emerged as the top candidate in a competitive search process that drew qualified applicants from Iowa and other states,” Lewis Central Board of Education president Dorene Scheffel said in a press release on the Iowa district’s website. “We have great things happening at Lewis Central and want to continue our mission – Inspiring Excellence. After the extensive interview process, finalized with feedback from the formal interviews from our LC stakeholders, we are confident that Dr. Knost has the experience and knowledge to guide Lewis Central into the future.”
Knost began his career in education in the Windsor C-1 School District in 1988, serving as band director for grades sixth through 12th.
He went to Rockwood in 1989 as a traveling band teacher before becoming the band director at Marquette High School in 1993.
Knost was an administrative intern at Rockwood’s Woerther Elementary from 1996-1997, before taking a job with the Parkway School District. He was an assistant principal at Parkway North High School from 1997-2002.
Knost then went to the Mehlville School District and was the principal at the district’s Oakville High School from 2002-2005. Then he became the north area superintendent for Mehlville for a school year.
From 2006-2011, Knost was Mehlville’s deputy superintendent, and then served as that district’s superintendent from 2011-2014.
Knost returned to Rockwood in 2014 as superintendent. He has spent 13 of 31 years working in the Rockwood district.
“We are all educators, and regardless of where we go in life, our mission stays the same – we are here to help kids thrive in the world,” Knost said. “I love what I do, I love people, and most of all I love public education. I'm thankful for the opportunities I have been afforded, and I'm thrilled I have the ability to continue my advocacy in the Lewis Central Community Schools.”
Knost had applied to be the next Missouri commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
However, the State Board of Education announced on Nov. 20, 2018, that Margie Vandeven had been rehired for that role. In December 2017, then-Gov. Eric Greitens successfully altered the state school board to fire Vandeven.
“I ultimately set my sights on being the Missouri Commissioner of Education,” Knost said. “While I was named as a finalist, Margie Vandeven was rehired into her former role. Please know, I am fully supportive of Commissioner Vandeven returning to this post.”
Knost and his wife, Juile, will celebrate their 25th year of marriage this year. Julie has served in many roles as a public educator, including being a high school biology teacher.
The couple has two daughters – Kaylin, who is a senior at Lindenwood University, and, Amy, who is a sophomore at Central Missouri. Kaylin and Amy are both music education majors.
Knost graduated from Bayless High School before attending Webster University to receive his bachelor’s degree in instrumental music and education. He earned his master’s degree in education administration from Lindenwood University, and his doctorate in education from Saint Louis University.
“Thank you for the phenomenal support I have felt from so many following my Missouri retirement announcement, and thank you in advance for your support as I take this next step with Julie, Kaylin and Amy,” Knost said in his announcement. “Rest assured, as a family of educators and future educators, we are all excited.”