Moniteau names new school chief
The Moniteau School Board named Aubrie Schnelle, assistant principal at Moniteau Junior/Senior High School, as the district's superintendent at Monday's meeting.
Schnelle, an alumna of Moniteau School District, graduated from the high school in 2001, and took on the role of assistant principal in 2016. She started her career as a guidance counselor at Rocky Grove High School, and was assistant principal at Franklin Senior High School before joining Moniteau.
Schnelle said she got her letter of eligibility for the position last year, and saw the opportunity to become superintendent as a chance to continue to improve Moniteau.
“It had always been a goal of mine to give back and continue working as hard as I could,” Schnelle said. “I was a student in the district and Moniteau gave me a lot of opportunities that I'd like to continue to give to our students.”
Schnelle will take the position of superintendent effective Nov. 6, filling the shoes of current superintendent Tom Samosky, whose resignation is effective Nov. 5.
Moniteau school board president Mike Panza said the board hired Schnelle on a three-year contract at $130,000 a year, plus a prorated amount for filling Samosky's role in the middle of his contract. Panza said the board will do two performance reviews on Schnelle during her contract, and she could be eligible for a raise of about 2% each review.
Schnelle said having been an administrator in the district for about five years, she works well with Samosky as well as many other faculty members of the schools.
“I am thankful to have him in a mentor,” Schnelle said of Samosky. “The administrative team and I are very close; I really feel like a lot of teachers, especially in the high school, and I have good relationships.”
According to Panza, the school board advertised the open position for about three weeks, and got a few more than a dozen applications by the due date. The school board spent a day together reviewing initial applications, and went through multiple rounds of interviews on the final candidates before deciding on Schnelle.
“We wanted to make sure we were thorough and took all the necessary steps,” Panza said. “It's about the fit for us, and Aubrie checks all the boxes.”
Panza said the school board will not immediately post a position opening for assistant principal of the high school, but its members will discuss the possibility at a later date.
Schnelle is expected to spend the coming days shadowing Samosky, which Panza said will allow for a smooth transition. He said Schnelle is more than capable of filling the role quickly.
“We're very fortunate that we'll be able to have a smooth transition,” Panza said. “I know her work ethic, know her character and know she will do the best for our district.”
Schnelle is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from California University of Pennsylvania, which she hopes to complete in about two years.
She said she is excited to take on the superintendent job, and her immediate plans are to continue working with the schools' developing adaptation of technology to prepare students for their futures.
“Career and college readiness is going to continue to be a goal of ours,” Schnelle said. “We'll continue working with our students with new technology, I don't think that's ever going to change.”
