The St. Joseph School District Board of Education approved new hires at
the May Board of Education meeting. The following administrators will begin July 1, 2015:
Solon Haynes, Ed.D., has been hired as the Director of Student Services. Haynes has been
the principal of Bishop LeBlond High School since 2009. Before that, Haynes was an
administrator and teacher in the St. Joseph School District. Haynes received his Doctorate in
Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2007, and received his Masters of
Science-Special Education from Northwest Missouri State University. Haynes is a graduate
of the University of Missouri and also served in the United States Marine Corps.
Marlena Walley has been hired as the Assistant Director of Special Education. Walley was
previously the District Coordinator of Special Services in the Independence School District.
She also has experience as a process coordinator and special education teacher. Walley
received her Educational Specialist degree from the University of Central Missouri-
Warrensburg in 2014. She also holds a Master of Science in Education degree from the
University of Kansas. Walley is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri-
Warrensburg.
John Davison has been hired as the Principal of Pickett Elementary. Davison was recently
the Assistant Principal at the Colgan Alternative Resource Center and has also worked as a
special education teacher. Davison holds his Master of Science Educational Administration
from Emporia State University. He also received his Master of Science in Special Education-
Adaptive from Emporia State University. Davison is a graduate of Kansas State University.
Rebecca Schilling has been named the Assistant Principal at Robidoux Middle School.
Schilling received her Educational Specialist in Administration Secondary Education from
the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She also received her Master of Science in
Education, History from Northwest Missouri State University. Schilling was a teacher and
coach at East Buchanan High School in Gower. She is a graduate of Northwest Missouri
State University.