Above from left, Bernard Assistant Principal Lauren Cumming accepts her top statewide award from Ed Gettemeier, president of Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals and principal of Hardin Middle in St. Charles; and Clark Mershon, executive director of Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.

Current Bernard Middle School Assistant Principal Lauren Cumming will be the new principal of the school beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

Cumming will take the top job at Bernard Middle School July 1.

The Mehlville Board of Education unanimously voted to approve hiring Cumming for the position, where she will succeed retiring Principal Lori Sullivan. Several highly qualified candidates applied for the position, the district said in a news release, and parents, students and staff were all involved in the selection process.

“Mrs. Cumming is a model example of a servant leader,” said Assistant Superintendent Jeff Bresler in the release. “She’s a lead learner who strives for continuous improvement and creates an environment where every staff member and student can find success. We know she will continue the forward momentum created under the leadership of Lori Sullivan.”

Cumming’s experience in school administration includes her role as assistant principal at Bernard Middle School for the past three years. Prior to that she taught foreign language and French at Oakville Middle School for seven years.

Last year, Cumming was named the Missouri State Assistant Principal of the Year. She has served on the district’s Leadership Development Program Committee, Middle-School Standards Based Grading Committee and Middle School Innovative Scheduling Committee.

Cumming earned a Bachelor of Arts in French and Francophone Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. She has a Master of Arts in education and Master of K-12 administration from Lindenwood University. She is currently pursuing an educational doctorate with an anticipated graduation date of November 2020.

“I am truly honored and incredibly excited to continue supporting the Bernard community as the new head principal next school year,” Cumming said. “Bernard has high expectations for student achievement in classroom learning environments that are engaging and relevant to the real world. I look forward to working with each of our families and teachers to help our students continue to explore their potential along their paths as lifelong learners.”

Cumming lives in Glendale with her husband, Paul.