Festus R-VI Hall of Fame Inductee - Karen Biehle
2015 Festus R-VI Hall of Fame Recipient
Mrs. Karen Biehle
Mrs. Karen Biehle was born on November 10, 1949 in St. Louis. She is a 1967 graduate of Festus High School and a 1971 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education. She earned her Masters of Arts in Education in 1981 from Southeast Missouri State University; in 1998 she received her Advanced Principal’s Certification from University of Missouri St. Louis.
While in high school, Karen served as Treasurer of the National Honor Society, was President of Girls Athletic Association, Student Council Representative, participated in band, choir and was on the volleyball and track teams. Karen was also Student of the Month, won the Daughter of American Revolution Citizenship Award and was a Prom Queen Candidate.
Mrs. Biehle’s entire career was centered on the Festus R-VI School District where she taught for 29 years, served as Activities/Athletic Director for 4 years and was Principal for 7 years. Mrs. Biehle has received recognition as Who’s Who among American Teachers, Missouri Association Student Council Award, and Missouri Dare Educator of the Year. She has had leadership roles in Missouri State Teachers Association, Jefferson County Activities Association, Jefferson County District Missouri State Teachers Association, Jefferson County Official’s Association and President of Festus R-VI MSTA/Community Teachers Association.
In addition to her teaching and administrative positions, Karen had an incredible coaching career. Mrs. Biehle’s passion and first love has always been volleyball. Her accolades include a 642 win record; she was inducted into the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018; she is listed in NFHS and MSHSAA Athletic Record Book for career winning percentage, 3A Volleyball Coach of the Year, Peggy Johnson Coaching Excellence Award, KTJJ, KREI, KJFF Dream Team Volleyball Coach of the Year and JCAA Volleyball Coach of the year. During her career, Festus volleyball teams won 22 conference championships, 12 State Tournament appearances and played in 3 Missouri State Final Fours. Mrs. Biehle was also a sideline presence as head basketball coach; her teams won 9 conference championships, 4 district titles and participated in 1 Missouri State Final Four. Her basketball coaching honors include, 400 Career Wins, JCAA Basketball Coach of the Year and KTJJ, KREI, KJFF Dream Team. She also coached Track and Field, Gymnastics, Cheerleading and Poms.
Karen’s service was not limited to Festus R-VI. She served as President of the National Federation Coaches Association, NFCA State Director, MSHSAA Volleyball, Basketball and Coaches Advisory Committees, Co-Founder of Missouri Coaches Association, President of the Missouri State Volleyball Coaches Association, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (CAA) and Presenter at State and National Conferences and has published articles in the NFCA, MSHSAA and JOHPER Journals.
Mrs. Biehle has also coached the Missouri State Champion Special Olympic Volleyball team, and her International Special Olympics team competing at the University of Notre Dame finished 4th in the world! Karen was honored as Missouri Special Olympics Coach of the Year and National Special Olympics Coach of the Year, Honorable Mention. She has been Head Coach for Missouri All-State Volleyball and served as Head Coach for the North-South All Star Basketball Game.
Karen has also been an active business woman and has been awarded as a Missouri Business Woman of the Year which came with a black tie dinner invitation by President Bush.
Her hobbies include playing on a World Class Softball team where she has been an All-American and MVP. She coaches YMCA, CYC and for the Festus Fire Junior Volleyball team.
Mrs. Biehle feels her greatest accomplishment was being able to bring out the potential in students and implementing High Schools That Work (HSTW) which has key practices, including Advisory that impacts student achievement and the Missouri Options Program that allows students the ability to receive a high school diploma. “I am honored to have been selected to the Festus R-VI Hall of Fame. I will continue to serve our school district and community and will always wear my gold and black with pride.”
Karen is the daughter of Walter and Ethel Johnson. She and her late husband, Dr. Louis “Terry" Biehle, have one son, Kirk (Cerissa) and 2 granddaughters, Alexis and Aaliyah, both attend Festus.