By Steven Stilt
The Centralia City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday night formally approved the hiring of a new assistant principal at Centralia Junior High School for the 2025-2026 school year.
Board members unanimously approved Ryan Brendel for the position. Brendel currently teaches in the Carlyle school district. City Schools Assistant Superintendent Christina Becker says Brendel stood out during the interview process for his passion for education and familiarity with systems used by the school.
“He definitely seemed like he had a passion for kids. We had a teacher panel and a board and administrator panel that both interviewed, and both groups felt that he would be an asset to the district and to the building. He’s familiar with PBIS and some of the other systems that are in place at the junior high level, and so I think overall we felt like he was the best fit.”
Following the board’s vote, Brendel signed his contract to officially become junior high assistant principal next school year. He also briefly addressed the board and expressed his excitement at taking on a new role.
“It sounds like great things are going on. I just really look forward to the opportunity and I hope to do great things with you guys next year. I’m very excited for this new chapter in my life.”
Brendel will fill the position being vacated by Beth Hollenkamp, who will become the district’s assistant superintendent starting in 2025-2026, and Becker will become district superintendent upon the retirement of Craig Clark at the end of the current school year.
Also on Tuesday, the City Schools Board approved the purchase and installation of an HVAC unit at Schiller School, at a cost of $14,245.
During his monthly report, Clark informed the board that the district had seen a recent uptick in enrollment, from 1,022 as of January 14 to 1,049 as of Tuesday. Clark says most of the recent enrollees are brand new to the district, and the majority of the newcomers are at Schiller and Jordan schools.
