The Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on Oct. 30 hired Timothy (Chip) Stutzman as the Owensville Elementary School assistant principal to replace Megan Young.

“He started on Monday,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy on Tuesday afternoon. “He come out to work under critical shortage until the end of the school year.”

Stutzman’s predecessor, Young, signed a separation agreement with the district on Oct. 3 during a special meeting. Young still holds the title of assistant principal through the end of the school and remains on paid leave. The board posted the position immediately. During the Oct. 21 board meeting, they declared the position eligible for critical shortage.

“We knew we were looking for a short-term assistant principal through the end of this year,” Hardy said. “We were looking at anyone who had retired and things of that nature. A good short-term person.”

Stutzman went through the district’s interview process and was asked all of the traditional questions. Hardy said he was hired based on the needs of the district. No other candidates had previous administrative experience until Stutzman’s application.

“He has brought a lot of experience and compassion to his role as OES assistant principal,” she said. “His strengths are building relationships with students and staff members and I think he will fit in well with the OES building.”

The district will post the OES principal position again in January to fill for the 2025-26 school year.

“After we interview, which could be as late as February, then we would announce who the person is,” Hardy said. “We want to post early to make sure we receive as many applicants as possible.”

Stutzman retired in June 2024 as Hermann High School principal. He has been an educator for 29 years and an administrator for 17 years. He is a graduate of Hannibal LaGrange University (1995) and earned both a master’s and specialist degrees (2010) from William Woods University. He and his wife Shelley live in Berger.

“I am excited about this opportunity at OES and look forward to serving the GCR-2 community,” Stutzman said in the district’s Facebook announcement.

“We are excited to have him as part of our admin team,” Hardy said.