Rock Creek Elementary School

   Dr. Wayne Dierker has been appointed the new principal at Fort Zumwalt Rock Creek Elementary School in O’Fallon. The appointment takes effect July 1, 2022. Dierker, who comes to Fort Zumwalt from the Lonedell School District where he has served as a principal since 2017, was named the 2020 Exemplary New Principal for the South Central region by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP), an affiliate of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).
   Dierker has already been able to meet the Rock Creek staff and see the school, but is focused on nurturing the strong sense of community that is part of the school’s traditions. 
   “I have heard how special Rock Creek is and I am thrilled to fully learn more about the school and the important people that make it a special place,” he says. “After that, I will partner with the staff and community to push forward on the best initiatives for the students. It is most important to me that Rock Creek remains a strong school community that ensures the success of every student. I am excited to get to work!”
   Dierker also serves his community through his work on the board for Franklin and Gasconade County CASA (Court Appointed Advocates). “Essentially CASA is a caring adult that volunteers and works with a child (or family) that is currently in foster care. The CASA volunteer is assigned and builds a relationship with the child and then represents their best interest in the courtroom,” Dierker says. “Hearing the success rates and research behind the success of this model is exciting and amazing. Kids are so much more likely to have long-term success and it shows the impact that a caring adult who listens to the needs of a child can have on long-term success. I love serving on the board and I am enjoying learning more each and every day.”
   When not at work in school or the community, Dierker likes to be outside, hiking with his dog, exploring state parks or kayaking.