Veteran principal Stephanie Martin will return to Fort Zumwalt School District next school year as the new Principal at Westhoff Elementary School in O’Fallon. Martin started her career as a science teacher at West Middle school, where she also served as the sponsor of the National Junior Honor Society. After teaching high school biology at St. Charles West, she spent three years as the assistant principal at Wright City Middle School and returns to Fort Zumwalt after serving the past four years as the Principal at Commons Lane Primary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
“My first goal is to immerse myself in the Westhoff Community and develop relationships with staff, students and families,” Martin says. “I will be focusing on building and maintaining a strong, student-centered culture at Westhoff. I will also be ‘lead learner.’”
Martin, who earned her bachelor’s at Truman State, where she played softball, and her master’s and specialist degrees at Lindenwood, is passionate about literacy. It’s at the heart of her decision to continue work with elementary students.
“My favorite thing to learn more about right now is literacy,” she says. “I am passionate about the Science of Reading and that literacy is a human right. If our kids can read, they can achieve anything in the world. I moved to elementary because I wanted the opportunity to make an impact at the beginning of a student’s educational career and watch them grow through each grade level.”
When she’s not at school, she is busy with her two daughters. As a family, they attend lots of club volleyball games and make time to explore local restaurants and museums. Martin says she puts a priority on fitness, particularly weightlifting. “I always make time for a workout each day. I want to create the most healthy and fulfilling life for myself and my family and to be able to enjoy my children and grandchildren in the later years of life.”
She looks forward to connecting with the school community. “I am most looking forward to being a LION, getting to know all students, staff and families at Westhoff,” Martin says. “I am excited to interact with all stakeholders on a daily basis by being present at arrival/dismissal, family nights, school events, etc.”
Martin takes on the role effective July 1.