SJSD School Board approves new administrators for 2025-2026 school year

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph School District Board of Education has approved appointments of four administrators for the 2025-2026 school year.

Tom Evans has been appointed the principal of Edison Elementary.

Evans previously served as the assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary since 2021. He began his career in education in 2014 and has spent the past six years in leadership roles within the St. Joseph School District.

Sarah Stapleton will serve as the principal of Bessie Ellison Elementary.

Stapleton began her career with SJSD in 2012, serving as a teacher and behavior interventionist before transitioning in to 2019 to her current role as a process consultant.

Colin Pettegrew has been appointed as the assistant principal of Lafayette High School.

Pettegrew has spent his entire 12-year career in the SJSD. For the past three years, he has served as the district's instructional coach with a focus on secondary math and science.

Prior to becoming an instruction coach, Pettegrew taught math at Robidoux Middle School for nine years and was also a basketball coach, department chair, summer school site director, new teacher mentor and math curriculum writing team member.

Brian Weed will assume the role of Assistant Director at Hillyard Technical Center.

Weed began his career with SJSD 15 years ago in the maintenance department, where he spent six years as a carpenter before transitioning into the classroom. For the past nine years, he has been the carpentry instructor at Hillyard Technical Center, where he played a key role in shaping future trades professionals.

All appointees will take their positions on July 1, 2025.