By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A St. Joseph educator has been honored with a statewide award for being an outstanding assistant principal.
Hosea Elementary Assistant Principal Jacob Kretzer was honored with the award by the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals.
Kretzer says while it’s humbling to win an individual award, it’s also a direct reflection of what they are doing as a team at Hosea Elementary.
“It means a lot to me to receive an individual honor, being kind of northwest Missouri’s Assistant Principal of the Year, but I think it just more so shows what we’re trying to achieve down here at Hosea,” Kretzer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Kretzer says he’s honored to receive the award and it’s a great reminder of everything that has been achieved at the school.
Kretzer has served many roles in the St. Joseph School District.
Kretzer started his education career as a 4th grade teacher at Humboldt Elementary, before being moved into more leadership roles across the district, including as the school districts behavioral interventionist.
Kretzer says through all his roles his goal was to just be the best he could be in that position.
“I think just trying to be the best that I can at every level and learn from every level has actually helped build and instill in me the leadership skills I have because of a lot of my past experience,” Kretzer explains.
Kretzer says there are many challenges that come with the position of Assistant Principal, but for him. . .
“Often a challenge is that you’re standing at the bottom of a mountain and seeing a majestic mountain and you know you get the opportunity to enjoy that challenge,” Kretzer says. “And often times through the challenge, that journey, is where a lot of the memories and all the stuff will come from that piece.”
Kretzer says the biggest challenge they face is helping serve students academically and providing the best access to education that is possible.