Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy tendered her resignation during a special meeting on March 9 to the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education with a June 30 effective date. The 10-year administrator accepted a position with the Farmington R-7 School District, effective July 1, as superintendent.

“There are so many people in the community I’ve come to know and love,” Hardy said on March 12 after her resignation was announced in a district-wide email. “I’m sure that will continue long after I’m gone from the community. I’m thankful for the last 10 years I’ve been at Gasconade County R-2.”

Hardy, who began serving as superintendent in August 2020, said she has been happy within the Gasconade County R-2 School District.

“I’ve never had a district I’ve wanted to leave. My administrative team is amazing, and we have such a good relationship within the team,” she said. “It’s really hard to let a team like that go. Our board is a supportive board, and we have an excellent staff.”

It’s the people who made her time in the district special.

“More than the programs or the buildings, however, what I will remember most are the people,” she said. “The relationships built with staff, students, families and community members are what make Gasconade County R-2 such a special place.”

She kept the R-2 schools in mind when she was looking at new districts. Farmington has similar programs to those she’s helped build here.

“They have a lot of the same extracurricular activities as Owensville,” Hardy said. “They have a few more, but so many are similar, so I know they are doing what’s right for children in that community. I want to be in a district, if I leave Owensville, that is very supportive of children.”

Farmington is also two hours closer to home and family, including her daughter and grandchildren.

“Closer to my daughter,” Hardy said. “It’s a larger school district and still has a lot of the same extracurricular activities and opportunities for students. They have a great community.”

Hardy plans to relocate to Farmington; however, her husband, Rick Hardy, who has headed the district’s new Career Technical Education (CTE) programs at Owensville Middle School (OMS) and Owensville High School (OHS) over the last five years, is planning to stay.

“Mr. Hardy is staying back,” Hardy said. “He’s staying because he wants to see the continuation of the CTE programs. I will be living in Farmington, and he’s going to remain in the area, continue his programs, and commute on the weekends.”

Rick Hardy teaches the automotive and printing classes at OHS, and both programs are in their first year as CTE pathway courses.

Over the coming weeks, Hardy plans to continue giving all of her efforts to the school district and supporting the bond issue that voters will need a 57.14 percent approval to pass on the April 7 ballot.

“I will be here until June 30, and will do everything in the next few weeks to support the bond campaign because this is something that is good for children,” she said. “That’s where my heart and soul has been for years. A bond project is for the community and the children.”

Hardy said she is proud of the work she has accomplished in the district and looks forward to bringing her skills to Farmington.

“I have given a decade of service to the Owensville community, and I feel like it is time to expand my service to another community and to help children grow in excellence,” Hardy said. “I look forward to continuing our work together throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 school year as we support our students, celebrate their achievements, and finish the year strong.”

Hardy’s resignation was approved with a 6-0 vote.

The board met on Saturday, March 14, in a special closed session meeting that resulted in a 5-0 vote to promote Assistant Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson to superintendent, with a July 1 effective date.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing in the community as a partner in our school and engaging parents at a higher level,” said Johnson, who began her journey as assistant superintendent in August 2020, taking Hardy’s former role. “I think we have a lot of opportunity to do amazing things for our kids and provide amazing experiences, but it’s going to take all of us working together to do that.”

Johnson will be part of the district’s search for a new assistant superintendent in the coming weeks. (See related story on page 8).