Jefferson City School District hires alumna as high school principal

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City School District graduate has been named as the next principal of Jefferson City High School.

The district announced Deanne Fisher's hiring in a news release Thursday. She will take over from Bob James, the seven-year veteran who is leaving to be superintendent at Osage County R-II at the end of the year.

Fisher has been principal at Lewis and Clark Middle School since 2018, overseeing 100 staff members and 950 students, the release says.

"Dr. Deanne Fisher has been an incredible asset for JC Schools, serving her students and fellow educators with an unrelenting energy, passion, and commitment for more than two decades,” JC Schools Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Gary Verslues said in the release. “Throughout her years of experience, Deanne has proven time and time again that she’s a fiercely dedicated and driven educator who does whatever she can to help others succeed."

Fisher also developed the district's first alternative school before taking over at Lewis and Clark, the district said. The district also says she was instrumental in lowering JC Schools' dropout rate. Fisher has also coached cross-country running and track at the middle school and Jefferson City High School.