By MATT PIKE
Central High School will have a new principal next school year as the St. Joseph Board of Education approved the appointment of Jeff Sullivan for the 2026-27 school year, replacing Heather Renk.
Sullivan has 26 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a physical education teacher and 11 years in school administration. He has been with the St. Joseph School District for 21 years serving 15 years at Central as a physical education teacher and coach, two years as Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Truman Middle School, and the past four years as Assistant Principal at Central as well. He has also served as Principal of Bishop LeBlond High School for five years.
"I am honored and humbled to serve as the Principal of Central High School," Sullivan says in a news release. "St. Joseph and Central have been my professional home for most of my career, and I am excited to lead during this historic next chapter for Central. I look forward to working with our outstanding staff, students, families, and community as we continue to build a strong school culture where every student feels welcomed and is given the real-world tools to be successful."
"Together, we will continue fostering the family-like atmosphere that makes Central feel like home.”
Sullivan is currently pursuing his Educational Specialist degree at Northwest Missouri State University. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest and a Bachelor of Science in Education with concentrations in K-12 Physical Education and Health from Missouri State University.
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