After staying with the district two more years than expected, Owensville Middle School (OMS) Principal Teresa Schulte submitted her retirement letter Feb. 20 to the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education, effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

When asked what she plans to do next, Schulte said she isn’t sure.

“I’m not sure at this point, but I will do something,” Schulte said positively.

For the last 30 years, Schulte has dedicated her life to educating children — 20 of those years were spent at OMS.

“18 years teaching, two as STRIVE Director, and 10 years at OMS as principal,” Schulte said when asked about the break down of her educational experience.

Over the years, Schulte explored several grade levels including kindergarten, second grade, third grade, and seventh grade.

“I loved being a teacher, especially when the students were successful and made big milestones,” she said. “Teaching students to read was very rewarding as they felt so accomplished.”

Leaving the classroom behind 10 years ago to become an administrator came with new rewards.

“As an administrator, I love being with all the students, watching them grow from sixth to eighth grade, and then seeing them at the high school level,” Schulte said.

According to her letter or resignation, “I have loved going to school every day for the past 30 years and am proud that most of those years have been at Owensville. I am proud of this community, school, district, and school board for prioritizing our kids and our community.”

Schulte said on Monday that the she continues to be grateful for the school district.

“We have the best district and I am thankful for this community and our schools,” she said. “The best includes our students, parents, grandparents, teachers, staff, administrators, and our board of education.”

Schulte’s retirement was approved on Feb. 20 with a 6-0 vote.

With Schulte’s retirement, OMS will undergo a complete turnover in top administration. Assistant Principal Kelly Brown announced her intentions to resign late last year. The district has already hired Michael Sachs, a seventh-grade social studies teacher in the Union school district, as her replacement. 

In addition to Schulte, the board accepted the following resignations with a 6-0 vote: Zach Bollmann as assistant track coach effective Feb. 13, and Rebecca Sparks, Gerald Elementary (GES) first grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

The board approved an extension of the contract of Dr. Staci Johnson, assistant superintendent of schools, through the 2025-26 school year with a 6-0 vote.

The following re-employments were approved for the 2024-25 school year with a 6-0 vote, including: Kris Altemeyer, high school principal; Tami Bobbitt, director of special services; John Bunch, high school assistant principal; Matt Johnson, activities director; Tricia Ridder, Owensville Elementary School principal; Brad Royle, Gerald Elementary School principal; Megan Young, Owensville Elementary School assistant principal; and Nicole Grannemann, director of technology.

The board approved the following employments with a 6-0 vote, including: Roberta Byers, long-term substitute OHS science teacher, under the WAR Waiver, for the 2023-24 school year; employ the substitute list as presented, pending clear background check, training and completed paperwork for the 2023-24 school year; Tracey Whipple, OMS math teacher, pending clear background check, training and completed paperwork for the 2024-25 school year; Cody Hendrix, OHS VoAg teacher, pending clear background check, training and completed paperwork for the 2024-25 school year; and Gabe Soest, assistant track coach, pending clear background check, training and completed paperwork for the 2024-25 school year.