- Special School District of St. Louis County
- District News
Board Approves Administration Hires at Ackerman and North Tech
Feb. 25, 2021 - The SSD Board of Education approved two principals positions in last evenings board meeting.
The Board approved Lisa Leonard-Sneed as the principal of SSD’s Ackerman School at the Board meeting on Tuesday, thus removing the interim title she has held for the past year. Prior to that, Ms. Leonard-Sneed served as the assistant principal at Ackerman for six years.
“I am very excited to be the principal and part of the Ackerman family,” she said. “I am motivated to continue my work with students, staff, and families and to build a strong school community.”
After starting her career with SSD as a special education teacher, she served as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Facilitator from 2007-2014, before heading to Ackerman’s front office. Along with more than two decades of service to SSD, Ms. Leonard-Sneed has offered her expertise as an adjunct professor at Fontbonne University and holds multiple certifications, including a principal certification in K-8 grades. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees from Webster University and has an Education Specialist degree from SIU-Edwardsville.
Dr. Ronda Wallace was approved as the next principal of North Technical High School after serving as the school’s interim principal since last year. The SSD Board approved her new title at Tuesday’s Board meeting, as she is in the midst of her seventh year at North Tech.
As the official new principal of North Tech, Dr. Wallace plans to focus on culture. "I am looking forward to building a culture of excellence in teaching and learning as we create positive and sustainable relationships with all stakeholders,” she said.
Prior to her term as interim principal, Dr. Wallace was an assistant principal, where she managed the career and technical education teachers, assisted with building budget planning, and monitored 12th grade enrollment. Before her time with SSD, she served as a principal and instructional coach/coordinator in the Normandy School District after 12 years in various education roles in the Houston area. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M, respectively, she has since earned an Educational Specialist Degree, Educational Doctorate Degree, and Special Education Administrator Certification from Lindenwood University.