“Schools are the nucleus of the community; stronger schools mean stronger communities. This symbiotic relationship between schools and communities requires that all stakeholders have a voice in the work we do.” - Dr. Roumpos
I am humbled and honored to be part of the Francis Howell School District community, and I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure our students are inspired, challenged and prepared for the future.
Long regarded as one of the best school districts in the state, FHSD is fortunate to have engaged parents, committed staff and talented students who will someday change the world. We have so much to celebrate, and yet we must continue to seek opportunities for improvement.
Schools are the nucleus of the community; stronger schools mean stronger communities. This symbiotic relationship between schools and communities requires that all stakeholders have a voice in the work we do.
I spent the first few months in this role meeting with students, staff, business leaders and community members, and I will continue to engage and collaborate with all of you to gain a deeper understanding of our District’s significant strengths and opportunities for improvement. Together, we will write a new chapter for FHSD and focus on what matters most - preparing students for a dynamic future that may look very different from today, recruiting high quality teachers and support staff, exercising fiscal responsibility, and strengthening relationships within the District and the broader community.
Dr. Kenneth Roumpos, District Superintendent
Contact
Jane Hepler
Board Secretary and Custodian of Records
636-851-4026
Dr. Kenneth Roumpos has dedicated his career to public education, serving more than 20 years in teaching and administrative roles at several St. Louis-area districts.
He currently serves as Superintendent of Francis Howell School District (FHSD) - one of the top-ranked public school districts in Missouri. He joined the District as Deputy Superintendent at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020 and helped keep doors open for in-person learning. Following the retirement announcement of former Superintendent Dr. Nathan Hoven, the FHSD Board of Education unanimously voted to name Roumpos as Interim Superintendent for the 2022-23 school year, citing his “strong leadership with good instincts and a propensity for action.”
He got to work right away, making a public commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility and reorganizing his Cabinet to prioritize stakeholder communications and community engagement. Together with his leadership team, Roumpos launched a comprehensive internal and external review of Proposition S construction work to identify opportunities for improved controls and communication going forward. He also introduced a series of Citizens Roundtable events to engage community members in the work of the District and encourage open and honest dialogue around key issues impacting FHSD. During this same period, Roumpos strengthened relationships with employee association groups and is working to address critical staffing shortages across the District, particularly custodians, paraprofessionals and bus drivers.
In October 2022, the FHSD Board of Education announced that Roumpos would continue as Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year, and in February 2024, voted unanimously to extend his contract for another three years, through the end of the 2026-27 school year.
Prior to joining FHSD, Roumpos was the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development at Ritenour School District from 2016-2020. In Ritenour, Roumpos earned the District one of the initial DESE Grow Your Own start-up grants, which was later used in the state’s model to expand the grant opportunities to all districts in Missouri. Focused efforts under his leadership led to improved certified staff attendance, successful interest-based negotiations, and increased diversity of teaching staff. He spent a total of nine years as a middle school principal, serving first as Assistant Principal (2007-2009) and then head Principal of Ritenour Middle School (2009-2016). Roumpos also worked in the St. Louis Public Schools system as Assistant Principal of the Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School. He began his career in education as a teacher and spent five years in the classroom in Mehlville and St. Louis Public School District.
Roumpos frequently speaks to educational leadership graduate programs sharing his central office and school experience, often focused on systems thinking, instructional leadership, and culture and climate. Roumpos holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Louis University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from MacMurray College. His board and volunteer service includes Central 104 School District Board of Education, MacMurray College Board of Trustees, Construction Career Development Initiative and MacMurray Foundation.
Roumpos is married to Amy, a 5th grade teacher. Together they have four children: Garrett, a senior at Georgia Tech; Haley, a sophomore at Missouri State University; Hayden in 10th grade and Addison in 6th, both at Francis Howell schools; and a dog named Tito.
