South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Affton School District hires two new assistant principals

Affton School District hires two new assistant principals
Deidra Brinker

The Affton School District has two new assistant principals.

The Affton Board of Education approved the hiring of  Deidra Brinker as assistant principal for Mesnier Primary School and Matthew Chaney as assistant principal for Gotsch Intermediate School for the 2018-2019 school year.

“We are excited for Deidra to join the Mesnier team as assistant principal. She has a strong understanding of the academic and social-emotional needs of our primary students,” Mesnier Principal Tina Been said in a news release. “I am confident that her focus on building strong relationships and commitment to student learning will have a positive impact on our school, students and staff.”

Brinker has served as a kindergarten, first-grade and Title I reading teacher for the Sullivan School District since 2010, and as a preschool paraprofessional for two years prior, according to a district news release. In addition to her classroom experience, Brinker has served as a leader for the district including as an administrative intern, Sullivan Primary Environment Leadership Team chair and Principal’s Task Force member. She earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood and elementary education at Central Methodist University in Fayette, as well as a master’s degree in elementary administration from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.

“I am so excited to join the Mesnier Primary family in Affton. The primary school environment is such an inspiring place to be, and I look forward to providing positive beginning experiences that will encourage high expectations for academic success,” said Brinker. “I am committed to ensuring Affton’s mission and vision are carried out to promote well-rounded citizenship while fostering positive communication between others, and am most excited about building new relationships with students, families, and staff, to ensure a positive, safe and engaging learning environment.”

Deidra and her husband, Eric, live in Bourbon and have two children, Audrey, 4, and Henry, 1.

Brinker will begin serving as assistant principal at Mesnier Primary School on July 1.

Matt Chaney

“We are excited to bring Matt on board. His passion for supporting our students’ social and emotional growth is inspiring,” said Gotsch Principal Christine Powers in a news release. “I am confident that his classroom experience and commitment to developing confident and capable citizens will make a positive impact on our school, students and staff.”

Chaney has served as a third-grade and fifth-grade teacher for the School District of Clayton since 2013, and as an elementary teacher for Raytown Quality School District C-2 in Raytown for six years prior, according to a news release. In addition to his classroom experience, Chaney has served as a leader in both districts including Summer Academy Director and Grade-Level Problem-Solving Facilitator Lead in Clayton, and Building Leadership Team and Data Team Leader in Raytown.

“I am so excited to join the Gotsch Intermediate family here in Affton. I’m looking forward to being part of a strong culture that has high academic standards and focuses on developing the whole child,” said Chaney. “I will work to support Affton’s standards and to build relationships within the community; I’m most excited about partnering with students, families, and staff to create fulfilling, well-rounded learning experiences for all of our students.”

Chaney earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, as well as a Master of Science in school leadership from Baker University in Kansas City.

He will begin serving as assistant principal at Gotsch Intermediate School on July 1. Also effective July 1, Rose Davis, current assistant principal, will begin serving as the Title I math interventionist, a new position created to better serve the needs of Gotsch students.

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