St. John School Board of Directors Announces Administrator Selection

St. John School Board of Directors Announces Administrator Selection
Dewey Hupke to Assume Principal Duties July 1, 2024
 
March 22, 2024
 
(Independence, IA) – The St. John School Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Dewey Hupke has been named the new principal of St. John School beginning July 1, 2024. 
Hupke, a resident of Independence, has served the past 10 years as an administrator at the Independence Community School District among grades 3-12 during his tenure, and has been in the education field for the past 29 years.  Hupke will assume principal duties at St. John School upon the retirement of current administrator, Jim Gieryng, who announced his retirement earlier in 2024.  Mr. Gieryng has been the principal at St. John School for the past 10 years.
Upon acceptance of his new position, Mr. Hupke stated, “My family and I are excited about this new chapter.  As a parishioner of St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence, I have always admired how the school has been conducted and have been impressed by the achievements of its students and staff.  I am looking forward to meeting the staff, students, and families, and am excited to help lead St. John School into the future, building upon on our established success and positive reputation within our community.”
“On behalf of the members of our school board, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the interviewing and hiring process and for the outstanding candidates that applied for this leadership position,” commented St. John School Board President, Matt Frye.  “Faith, stability, and commitment were among the key points of common interest that we received from our staff, families, and parishioners when interviewing for and deciding upon this position. St. John’s is a ‘WE’ community.  We pray together, we share our faith, we help each other out, and we support one another.  We are excited to welcome Mr. Hupke into our school family to become part of the ‘WE’ and look forward to what he will bring to the table to help St. John School continue to thrive.
Originally from Cherokee, Iowa, Mr. Hupke attended Northwestern College for his undergraduate degree, Wayne State University for his graduate degree, and received his administrative endorsement from Morningside College.  Mr. Hupke resides in Independence with his wife, Heather, of 25 years and together are parents to their daughters Mackenzie, Bailey, who passed away in 2007, and son Korver.  In his free time, Mr. Hupke enjoys watching his children participate in sports, and spending time outdoors hunting and working around his family’s acreage and spending time with family and friends.

A private, Catholic school located in the heart of Independence, St. John School strives to promote life-long learning in the Catholic Christian tradition and provides an education of excellence to children of all cultures and abilities in preschool through eighth grade. To stay up-to-date with the latest news and announcements from St. John School, please visit stjohneagles.com or follow St. John School at facebook.com/sjsindee.  For more information about school enrollment for grades PK3-8, please call 319.334.7173.
 
Pictured: Dewey Hupke, Incoming St. John School Principal