During last night’s school board meeting, the Ladue School District Board of Education approved two administrative appointments for the 2026-27 school year. Dr. Kevin Beckner, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, and Dr. Thomas Hadfield, as Principal of the Ladue Fifth Grade Center (FGC).

Dr. Beckner will take over the role currently held by Dr. Geoff Macy. This change comes as Dr. Macy prepares to become the district's new Superintendent following the retirement of Dr. Jim Wipke on June 29.

“We had many excellent candidates apply for both positions,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke. “Dr. Macy led the search for his own replacement and the FGC building principal role, and I am confident that both appointments are the right individuals to join the administrative team as Dr. Macy prepares to lead the district.”

In his new role, Dr. Beckner will join the Superintendent’s Leadership Cabinet, providing strategic direction for budget development, long-range financial planning, facilities management, transportation, food service, school safety, and custodial operations.

“We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Dr. Beckner’s caliber to our district,” said Dr. Geoff Macy, incoming superintendent. “Our community expects excellence, and Dr. Beckner’s deep knowledge of school finance and his proven track record as an administrator make him an excellent fit to lead our business office and support our mission of academic excellence.”

Dr. Beckner joins Ladue Schools with more than two decades of diverse leadership experience. Since 2017, he has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning, and Accountability for the Parkway School District. His career includes significant experience as a high-level administrator recognized for managing complex district operations and school finance related to teaching and learning.

In addition to his administrative roles, Dr. Beckner has served as an adjunct professor, teaching doctoral-level courses in assessment and data use. His professional journey also includes foundational experience as an instructional leader, student assessment coordinator, assistant principal, and history teacher, which has given him a "student-first" perspective.

Dr. Beckner holds a Doctorate in Education from Missouri Baptist University, a Master of Education Administration from Lindenwood University, and both a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Truman State University.

“I am excited to join the Ladue School District, a community known for honoring tradition and its commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Beckner. “I look forward to supporting Dr. Macy as he assumes the lead role in the district, and I am eager to work with the Business Office, Cabinet, Ladue staff, and the community to ensure our financial resources are managed with the highest level of integrity to benefit all students.”

Dr. Thomas Hadfield will succeed Dr. Patricia Wilson, current principal of FGC, who has accepted a new leadership opportunity in another district for the upcoming school year. While we are sad to see a respected colleague depart, we are immensely proud of the legacy she leaves behind and support her as she takes this next step in her professional journey.

A familiar and highly respected face within the Ladue Schools community, Dr. Hadfield brings over two decades of educational experience to this role. He currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Conway Elementary School and, before that, as Assistant Principal at Sappington Elementary in the Lindbergh Schools district. However, his deep roots in Ladue Schools span two decades as a dedicated teacher at both the Fifth Grade Center and Reed Elementary, giving him a unique understanding of the district’s high standards for academic excellence.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hadfield back to the Fifth Grade Center in this new leadership capacity," said Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke. “As building principal, he will join Dr. Macy’s Administrative Council in the next school year.”

Dr. Hadfield’s commitment to the Ladue Schools community has been recognized at the highest levels. In 2023, he received the "Excellence in Education" award, an honor bestowed by school administration annually to only one teacher in each building. His educational passion also garnered national attention in 2010 when he was named one of the top five teachers in the country by the "Live with Regis and Kelly" nationwide Top Teacher search.

"His extensive history within our district, combined with his leadership experience and specialized training in restorative practices and character education, makes him an excellent fit to lead our fifth-grade students and staff," said Dr. Geoff Macy, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance and the next Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Hadfield has been a driving force in curriculum development and school culture. Some of his leadership includes:

• Served on the District Communication Arts Committee and led the District Physical Education Curriculum writing for nearly a decade.
• Led the Behavior Intervention Support Team at Reed Elementary.
• Acted as the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Chair at the Fifth Grade Center. 
• Served on the leadership team that was instrumental in launching PLCs at Reed Elementary.
• Worked extensively with character education leadership teams to bring about new initiatives at Conway and Reed Elementary and the FGC.

Dr. Hadfield earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University. He holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His professional expertise is further strengthened by advanced training in Restorative Practices, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Trauma-Informed Classroom strategies.

The district extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Wilson for her leadership and dedication to the FGC. Dr. Wilson and FGC Assistant Principal Levi Rutherford will work closely with Dr. Hadfield to ensure a seamless transition. We are confident that Dr. Thomas Hadfield’s leadership will complement the incredible work already being done at the Ladue Fifth Grade Center. 

The Ladue Schools Human Resources team will immediately begin the search to fill the assistant principal position at Conway Elementary for the next school year.

Please join us in congratulating both Dr. Kevin Beckner and Dr. Thomas Hadfield on their new leadership roles at Ladue Schools; both positions are effective on July 1.