SJSD School Board appoints cabinet positions for 25-26 school year

The St. Joseph School Board appointed cabinet positions, with staffing changes becoming ever-so-present for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

Stacia Studer, the St. Joseph School District’s current director of curriculum and instruction, will take over for Dr. Ashly McGinnis as the Assistant Superintendent of Academics.

McGinnis will assume her role of SJSD’s superintendent for the upcoming school year.

Studer has served the St. Joseph community as an educator for 24 years, she has also coached cross country, basketball and track.

Studer holds an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University, a Master of Arts in School Administration from William Woods University, and a Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education with an emphasis in English Language Arts and Social Studies from Missouri Western State University.

She has completed her doctoral coursework at William Woods University and is currently working on her dissertation.

Additionally, she is a National Writing Project Consultant with the Prairie Lands Writing Project, based at Missouri Western State University.

Mark Korell will serve as the Director of human Resources, taking over for Dr. Brian Kraus, who will retire in June.

Korell is the current principal at Bode Middle School and has been with SJSD since 2011.

Korell holds an Ed.S. in Superintendency from Northwest Missouri State University, M.Ed. in K-12 Administration from Northwest Missouri State University, a B.S. in History from Missouri Western State University, and a A.S in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University.

Dr. Robert Hedgecorth will serve as the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations, taking over for Dr. Robert Sigrist, who will also retire in June.

Hedgecorth will be joining SJSD in the 25-26 school year, but is currently serving as the Executive Director of Business Services for the Ozark School District.

Hedgecorth has also served as the Executive Director of Support Services for the Smithville School District.

He earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from William Woods University. He also earned his M.A.Ed. in Education from Baker University and a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Northwest Missouri State University.

All three appointees will assume their positions on July 1, 2025.