Kirkwood School District Board of Education Approves Hire of New Principal of Kirkwood Early Childhood Center

At the regularly scheduled Kirkwood School District Board of Education meeting on Monday, February 2, the board approved the recommendation for the hire of Mary Pat Blaskiewicz as the new principal for the Kirkwood Early Childhood Center effective July 1, 2026.

Blaskiewicz has been a part of KECC for nearly 23 years, serving as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, Special Education Process Coordinator, Instructional Coach and, most recently, as Assistant Principal. During that time, her responsibilities have included helping facilitate professional development for early childhood educators, providing leadership for special education teams, and collaborating with classroom teams to provide individualized programming for students. She is proud of the work KECC does each day to support families during their students’ years of early learning and through the transition to kindergarten.

The hiring process was guided by the feedback of KECC staff, students, and families. Throughout a rigorous interview process, the insights shared by the KECC community remained the driving force behind this selection.

“As a proven leader within our district,  Ms. Blaskiewicz brings an invaluable understanding of KECC, Parents as Teachers and Adventure Club,” said Dr. Kenneth Roumpos, Superintendent of Kirkwood Schools. “During the interview process, she was able to pair that deep institutional knowledge with a compelling, forward-thinking vision for the future of our youngest learners."

Blaskiewicz earned her Bachelor's degree in Speech Therapy from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She also has a Master's degree in Speech Therapy from St. Louis University and 

Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Southwest Baptist University. She is certified in Speech/Language Therapy, Early Childhood Special Education, Administration and Director of Special Education.

Blaskiewicz will succeed Dr. Mandy Rose, who is retiring after 27 years with the Kirkwood School District.