Superintendent
Dr. Jim Wipke
Ladue Schools Superintendent
Email Dr. Wipke
James D. Wipke, Ed.D., a highly esteemed educational leader, has a remarkable career spanning over 32 years. Dr. Wipke's journey in education began after earning his Bachelor of Science in Education, Cum Laude, from Harris-Stowe State University in 1993. He furthered his education with two Master's degrees from Southwest Baptist University and ultimately attained his Doctorate in Education from Maryville University in 2008. A note of pride for Dr. Wipke was receiving his Lafayette High School diploma from Dr. Dan Deschamp, who also bestowed his Maryville School Doctor of Education degree.
Dr. Wipke's career is a testament to his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of students, educators, and families. His leadership philosophy centers around building strong, collaborative relationships with all stakeholders in the educational community. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to opening doors and providing opportunities for all students, ensuring they have the tools to succeed and contribute positively to society.
Since 2019, Dr. Wipke has had the honor of serving as the Superintendent of the Ladue School District. In this role, he has led significant initiatives to enhance educational outcomes and community engagement. Under his leadership, the district passed a $126 million bond issue, the largest in its history, to improve school facilities and resources. This accomplishment occurred during the COVID pandemic, and the Ladue Schools community passed the bond issue with the second-highest approval rating. During his tenure in Ladue Schools, five of the eight school buildings have had major construction projects leading to future-ready schools for the students of the Ladue School District.
In 2022, Dr. Wipke worked with his leadership team to write a Five-year Strategic plan that is still guiding the district through its Collective Commitments. He believes the diversity of Ladue Schools is a strength, and he has worked within the Strategic Plan to support the diversity efforts within the district.
Under Dr. Wipke’s leadership, the Ladue School District was recently ranked 6th nationwide by the education research company Niche—up from 8th in 2024—this achievement reflects the unwavering commitment of the district’s students, staff, and community to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
There is nothing Dr. Wipke would not do to support his students. He is a recognizable figure in the region as he quite often can be found attending student athletics and activities. He also writes a blog and does a podcast regularly to form connections with students and the community.
Before joining Ladue, Dr. Wipke was the Superintendent of the Fox C-6 School District, where he successfully navigated the district through financial challenges, built back relationships within the community that had been severed before he took the position, and implemented innovative programs to improve student achievement. His tenure saw an increase in ACT composite scores and in students taking the PSAT and advanced placement courses.
Dr. Wipke's earlier roles include serving as the Executive Director of Secondary Education for the Rockwood School District, where he supervised secondary schools and facilitated professional development initiatives. He served as Principal of Eureka High School and Crestview Middle School in the Rockwood School District, where he was known for his collaborative leadership style, commitment to professional development, focus on student-centered practices, and tough jump shot during lunch recess at Crestview.
Throughout his career, Dr. Wipke has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NSPRA Superintendent to Watch in 2020, the Fox School District Masterpiece Award in 2019, the Harris Stowe Distinguished Alumni Award; the MASA New Superintendent of Schools Award in 2018, ROSE Award in 2008. Most recently, Dr. Wipke received Maryville University’s 2024 Alumni School of Education Dean’s Award.
His leadership extends beyond his district roles, as he actively participates in community organizations and initiatives to further support educational excellence.
Dr. Wipke has been married to Jennifer for more than 30 years, and he attributes a great deal of his success to her constant support, being a wonderful mom, and a terrific wife. When Dr. Wipke is not working within his school district, you can find him volunteering his time coaching select soccer. He has always coached his four children, Jamison, Jordan, Jill, and Jacob, and enjoys spending time with them on and off The Pitch (soccer field). Dr. Wipke believes that his coaching roles have assisted him in being a better father and educator as he works directly with students every day.
He believes that our future is incredibly bright because of the amazing students at Ladue Schools.
Podcast: See. Serve. Connect.
This podcast reflects the theme: See. Serve. Connect. The purpose of this theme is to continuously focus Ladue Schools staff on the idea that, to be effective, all educators need to truly see their students for the unique and valuable individuals they are; serve their educational, as well as their emotional and social needs; and connect with them so they truly feel supported, valued and part of something bigger than themselves.
Using See. Serve. Connect. as a foundation, the podcast will have three main areas of focus:
- Student and staff voice.
- Discussing public school education issues in today’s times.
- Engaging with our broader community, including parents and local leaders, about societal issues and opportunities.
Blog: From My View
For 32 years, Dr. Wipke has been a public school educator and second superintendency.
This blog shares topics From My View. We hope to provide some motivation, but also practical ideas that apply to leadership beyond the field of education.