Jennifer Meyer has been hired by the School District of Washington as the Director of the Early Learning Center, effective July 1, 2023. The Board of Education approved the hire during its February 15 meeting.
Meyer will replace Dr. Dawn Hellebusch, who will retire following the 2022-23 school year.
Meyer currently is the principal at Campbellton Elementary, a role she has held for 12 years.
“I’m super excited for the new challenges and being in a different role in the district. I’m excited about coming up with ways that I can help the Early Learning Center grow and expand upon the things that they’re already doing,” Meyer said. “When the position was posted, every time I drove by the ELC, I thought about it. I just kept thinking about it. It was like my heart called me to make this change. This wasn’t on my radar, but when the opportunity presented itself, my heart called me there.”
Meyer has been with the School District of Washington for 12 years, all as Campbellton’s Principal. She’s been in education for 26 years. She began her career in the St. Clair R-XIII School District as a first-grade and third-grade teacher at St. Clair Elementary. She then was promoted to assistant principal at the school.
Following her time at St. Clair, Meyer joined the Union R-XI School District as assistant principal at Central Elementary. She then became process coordinator for Union R-XI before getting the job with the School District of Washington as principal at Campbellton.
“Mrs. Meyer has been a successful elementary principal for the district and has leadership experiences in early childhood, which makes her an excellent choice for our next Director of Early Learning,” said SDOW Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart. “She brings instructional and developmental knowledge of both elementary and early learning. We look forward to her continued leadership in the district.”
Meyer is anxious to start her new position at the Early Learning Center and is excited about what the staff can do for children as they prepare for elementary school.
“Setting kids up for success on the elementary level is a major factor on why I want to do this. Being in elementary for the last 12 years, I know what we want to see kids coming in with. Setting them up for success, helping them not have those gaps in their learning, and getting them prepared are things I can help them with,” Meyer said. “It’s definitely a change, a new challenge, and something I’m really looking forward to. I want to help get the word out there about the Early Learning Center. That’s something the staff is really interested in doing. We are a preschool. We are teaching these kids and preparing them for school. We are not just playing all day. Some of it looks like we’re just playing, but it’s much more than that.”
A Union High School graduate, Meyer has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree from Southwest Baptist University in Educational Administration and an Educational Specialist Degree from Saint Louis University.
Jennifer and her husband, Mike, have four boys; Jacob is a Washington High School graduate, Weston is a senior at WHS, Wade is a sophomore at WHS, and Thomas is in fourth grade at Campbellton Elementary. They also have a grand-daughter, Adaline, who is three years old.
Meyer got emotional when she was asked about leaving Campbellton Elementary after 12 years.
“These people are my family. They know about me. They know about my struggles and my celebrations. They know my kids. It’s going to be hard to say good-bye. I will miss them, but I will keep in touch,” Meyer said. “I want the Campbellton students and staff to keep growing, learning and being innovative. I want them to keep being the best they can be. Having someone else with new perspective as their principal can help them continue to do that.
“I love being a part of this district. It’s not just Campbellton, it’s everybody. It’s the district,” Meyer continued. “I wouldn’t want to leave this district because there are so many supportive people and we all work together. We’re a team. That’s important.”
Dr. Dawn Hellebusch Retiring
Dr. Dawn Hellebusch has been with the School District of Washington for 25 years. She’s been the Early Learning Center Director since it opened in 2014.
Prior to being at the ELC, Hellebusch was the principal at Clearview Elementary. She also served as principal at Marthasville Elementary and Augusta Elementary. She was principal at Marthasville and Augusta at the same time. She began her career in the district by teaching fifth grade at South Point Elementary.
“For the past 25 years, I have had the opportunity to spend each day with amazing students, supportive families, and talented, caring colleagues who each made me proud to be a Blue Jay,” Hellebusch said. “The School District of Washington holds a special place in my heart, along with the many people that have helped shape my professional and personal life.”
Jennifer Meyer is the new Early Learning Center Director, effective July 1, 2023.
Early Learning Center Director Dr. Dawn Hellebusch will retire following the 2022-23 school year.