Fredericktown hires new elementary principal

The Fredericktown R-I Board of Education hired Joe Clauser as the new Fredericktown Elementary School principal.

Clauser will begin at the elementary school Aug. 3. He replaces Melanie Allen, who is leaving Fredericktown to take a position with the North (St. Francois) County School District.

“We had a lot of quality candidates,” Superintendent Brett Reutzel said. “We received 20 applications and conducted nine interviews. We think Joe is the best fit for that building. He has broad experience in a variety of school programs, including special ed., Title I, and E-rate, as well as other administrative experience.”

Clauser attended school in the Fredericktown district and is a Marquand High School graduate. He taught in the district before taking on numerous positions in the Bunker School District, including assistant principal, principal, transportation director, and director of special services, A+, and curriculum.

In other action, newly-elected board members Richard Allgier and Xandra Sonderman and newly-appointed board member Kent Marler were sworn into office.