Dr. Tom Muzzey, who has served as superintendent of the Warren County R-III School District since July 2011, is resigning. Muzzey’s resignation was accepted last Thursday by the Warren County R-III School Board. He will fulfill his current contract, which runs through June 30. In a telephone interview Tuesday, Muzzey told The Record that he has accepted a similar position with the Orchard Farm School District in St. Charles County. He will succeed Dr. Dan Dozier. Presently, Muzzey is in Los Angeles, Calif., at a conference of the American Association of School Administrators. The search for Muzzey’s replacement is under way, according to Scott Costello, R-III school board vice president. Teresa Scott, board president, is out of town and could not be reached for comment. Muzzey said he will not be involved in the search for his successor. The key reason for Muzzey’s decision is that his wife, who also is a school administrator, is employed by the Northwest School District in northern Jefferson County. “The drive is really an issue for her,” Muzzey stated. “She looked at several positions to get closer — unsuccessfully — so this was a compromise.” However, making the decision to leave his current post was not easy, Muzzey said. “The town, the students and the district have been outstanding to me and my family,” he said, “but at the end of the day, a decision had to be made. “The timing wasn’t ideal, but one thing people in the education business struggle with is that you have to apply when openings occur,” Muzzey added. “We are sad to see him go, but we understand this is a situation he wants to pursue,” Costello remarked. “Tom’s done a great job and we’re more than happy with what he’s done for the school district and with the direction we’re headed in.“Our hope is to complete the process in time to make a decision by the school board’s March 14 meeting,” he added. “The board intends to find the best replacement we possibly can, recognizing the importance to not let this situation draw out. As we get further into the year, the pool of available candidates will get smaller and smaller.” Costello stated that the board’s priority is to “find good leadership so that the school district will know as soon as possible” who the next superintendent will be. “Tom has indicated that he will be happy to work through the (leadership) transition to make sure everything goes smoothly, once we know who his successor will be,” Costello said. Muzzey was hired by the Warren County R-III School District in December 2010. He has been under contract as the district’s superintendent since July 1, 2011. Prior to taking the top administrative position here, Muzzey was employed for 20 years in various capacities by the Hillsboro School District. He started as a teacher and then held several administrative posts, including assistant principal, construction manager, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent. Looking back on his two years as R-III superintendent, Muzzey said he is most proud of the district’s expansion of the prekindergarten program, which he said offered more opportunities for district students. Under Muzzey’s leadership, the district also undertook a major project to develop new district boundaries, which established three elementary schools serving children from kindergarten through the fifth grade. The R-III School District has five schools and serves a total of approximately 3,140 students.

Dr. Tom Muzzey