Hickman High School principal to take job at CPS central office

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The head principal of Hickman High School announced Tuesday she is taking a job at the Columbia Public Schools central office.

ABC 17 News got a copy of an email from Mary Grupe where she said she accepted the position of Director of Student Support for CPS. The district told ABC 17 News that Grupe will take over for current Director Vince Thompson, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Grupe graduated from Hickman in 2001 and took the head principal job at the school ahead of the 2022-23 school year.

Grupe has spent nearly her entire educational career with Columbia Public Schools. She has been a teacher, a learning specialist, a case manager, an instructional aide and an assistant principal at Rock Bridge High School.

"Thank you for trusting me with the incredible honor of serving as principal of this one-of-a-kind school community," Grupe said in her message. "As a graduate of Hickman, and as someone whose family’s story is deeply connected to this school, this role has meant more to me than I can fully express."