Board selects Dr. Jeff Haug as Mehlville School District’s next superintendent
Posted on 03/13/2023
In a unanimous vote on Friday evening, the Mehlville Board of Education has selected Dr. Jeff Haug as the district’s new superintendent beginning July 1, 2023. Dr. Haug will replace Dr. Gaines, who has been serving as superintendent for the past 8 years and will be retiring this summer.
Dr. Haug currently serves as chief operations officer for Special School District of St. Louis County, where he has worked since 2020. In that role, he supervises district finance, business, purchasing, state data reporting, transportation, maintenance, security and food service departments. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer for Meramec Valley R-III School District in Pacific, Mo., for three years. He has also served as assistant superintendent for instruction in Hazelwood School District, has seven years’ experience as a middle school principal and started his educational career as a social studies teacher at St. Dominic High School. He has also taught at McCluer North High school in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
Dr. Haug holds a doctorate degree and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Lindenwood University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Truman State University.
The Board’s selection of Dr. Haug follows a national search conducted by EGL Association. The candidate evaluation process was based on staff and parent input around their priorities for the new superintendent and the skills and experiences that person should have. Several highly qualified candidates applied for Superintendent.
“Mehlville is a proud district with a noteworthy tradition of educational excellence,” said Board President Peggy Hassler. “It was clear that Dr. Haug is very student-centered. We were impressed with his desire to collaborate and continue to build effective teams that will make a difference in our schools. We are confident Dr. Haug’s diverse background, experience, and personal qualities will be a significant contribution in Mehlville School District’s journey to excellence.”
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve the students, staff and community of the Mehlville School District. I am humbled to partner with district stakeholders to continue the tradition of success for all children,” Dr. Haug said. “Throughout the interview process, everyone spoke about the incredibly dedicated staff and amazing families of the Mehlville School District. That support, compassion, and conviction are what drew me in and will continue to inspire me through this transition. I cannot wait to become part of a school district and community with such strong traditions and belief in students.”
As he transitions into the superintendent role, Dr. Haug said he looks forward to meeting staff, students, parents and community members. He plans to be visible at key district events and meetings this spring to begin to develop strong relationships and a deep understanding of Mehlville School District.
Dr. Haug and his family live in St. Louis County.