RE: Superintendent Hire
The Board of Education of Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19, after an extensive search to name a replacement for retiring Superintendent Dr. Craig Fiegel, have named Dr. Dave Deets as their next superintendent. Dr. Deets will begin his employment with Mascoutah CUSD 19 on July 1, 2023, and he will be only our fourth superintendent in the past 46 years:
- Vic Van Dyne, 1977-1994
- Dr. Sam McGowen, 1994-2012
- Dr. Craig Fiegel, 2012-2023
- Dr. Dave Deets, 2023-
Dr. Deets has spent his entire professional career here in St. Clair County. He began his career in 2003 as a Social Studies teacher at Fulton Junior High School in O’Fallon District 90. In 2008 he was hired as principal at Marissa Elementary, part of Marissa CUSD 40. In 2010 Dr. Deets joined Harmony-Emge 175 where he served as a principal for seven years. Then in 2017 Dr. Deets was hired as the superintendent for Harmony-Emge 175, where he is currently serving.
Dr. Deets and his family will be relocating to the Mascoutah Community.
His wife is Ashleigh Deets, an elementary teacher at Illini Elementary in Fairview Heights. His sons are Tyler (a sophomore at Lewis & Clark), Jack (a freshman in high school), and Luke (a 4th grader).
Dr. Deets says, “I am incredibly honored by this opportunity to serve as Mascoutah’s next Superintendent. I look forward to building relationships with all stakeholders and working together as a school community to engage all of our students every day as we push them to reach their fullest potential. My family and I are eager to join the wonderful Mascoutah community, and I cannot wait to hit the ground running this July.”
The Board is committed to supporting a smooth transition. The Board feels Dr. Deets is the right person to lead the District in its ongoing efforts of continued growth and academic excellence.