Dr. Nicole Wilmes Named Assistant Principal at Washington High School
Dr. Nicole Wilmes has been named the new assistant principal at Washington High School, effective July 1. She replaces Mary Kleekamp, who recently was named the School District of Washington’s new Director of Special Education.
“I’m really excited. I live in the general area and really love Washington. It’s such a neat community,” Wilmes said. “I think that’s the part that I’m most excited about. Washington is a community, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Wilmes has been in education for 11 years. She currently teaches eighth grade science at Francis Howell Middle School, a position she’s held for three years. Since the fall of 2022, she has been actively engaged in an aspiring administrator internship.
Prior to her current position at Francis Howell Middle School, Wilmes taught science for two years at Francis Howell Central High School. She began her career at Troy-Buchanan High School, where she taught science for six years.
A graduate of Troy-Buchanan High School, Wilmes has a Bachelor’s degree in biology and secondary education from Drury University in Springfield. She has a Master’s degree in administration, a Specialist degree, and a Doctorate degree in education leadership, all from Missouri Baptist University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Wilmes to our team at Washington High School as an assistant principal. Her student-centered approach and expertise in curriculum development will undoubtedly enhance our commitment to academic excellence,” said Washington High School Principal Dr. Eric Turner. “Dr. Wilmes stood out during the interview process with her comprehensive understanding of educational practices and her proactive mindset towards addressing challenges. We look forward to her contributions in fostering a dynamic learning environment for our students."
Wilmes is looking forward to joining the administrative team at Washington High School.
“Dr. Turner seems like a great person and leader. I’m excited to meet the other administrators and the staff. The size of Washington High School was appealing to me. It’s not super tiny. It’s big enough to have the resources to do things that are great for kids. It’s not so big that kids become a number and not a name.
“Also, after doing some research, the district’s Connect Washington program is really great. The district is putting an emphasis on skills that are life skills for kids and that’s something that is so important and really appealing to me. Making sure that kids are able to go out and be successful after they leave our district is really important to me. That’s something the district is really outing an emphasis on. “
Wilmes lives in Foristell with her husband Scott and two children, Logan (5 years old) and Knox (3 years old).
Dr. Nicole Wilmes