Donna Jahnke recently was named Missouri’s 2008 National Distinguished Principal by the the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals.

Jahnke was selected by her peers as a distinguished principal along with 12 other colleagues around the state and then was named Missouri’s 2008 National Distinguished Principal.

Jahnke was born and raised in Oakville.

Her elementary education was spent at Point Elementary School, Wohlwend Elementary School and Oakville Elementary School. She went on to Oakville Junior High School and graduated from Oakville Senior High School in 1978.

She earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education at Southeast Missouri State in 1982 and her master’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1990. She received her doctorate in education administration in 2001.

She was presented a resolution by the Missouri Legislature in Jefferson City and in October will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent Missouri with distinguished principals from other states.

Jahnke serves as principal of Reed Elementary School in Ladue.