Walking the halls of Rockwood schools, new Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost interacts with students and talks to teachers, some of whom he once taught. Dr. Knost said he plans to build relationships and trust in the district and to visit every classroom.

“My main goal is to perpetuate excellence in Rockwood schools and to bond our community in a form of unity that they haven’t felt in many years,” Dr. Knost said. “It all starts with relationship building.”

Dr. Knost started teaching in 1989. He was MHS’s band director when it opened in 1993. From there, he became principal in school districts like Mehlville, Parkway and Oakville. He became the Deputy Superintendent for the North Area and Superintendent in Mehlville School District.

“It’s a return to Rockwood, so I’ve been gone 17 years but it’s been wonderful. I’m kind of living a time warp, even to be here at MHS where I taught for the first three years of MHS’s existence,” Dr. Knost said. “Just to walk the halls and see the differences.”

He said he wants to augment communication within the community.

“We work in quadrants, so there hasn’t been as much unity that we need, with not only students but with parents and community members,” Dr. Knost said.

In order to reach this goal and to remain visible, he’s going to visit each classroom in every district school about three times this year.

“I’ll be going to a lot of chamber meetings, civic organizations, being visible, getting to know people and bringing a feeling of that positive approach and perpetuating that excellence,” Dr. Knost said. “So basically it’s all about that relationship building.”

Dr. Knost said he wants the community as a whole to hold him accountable.

“I have a high expectation that we do everything we can to the best of our abilities to make sure we do whatever it takes to help kids realize their potential,” Dr. Knost said. “I call that helping kids thrive.”

As an administrator and a public educator, he said he feels a distinct pride from working in Rockwood.

“Rockwood is the envy. I’ve had that perspective because I’ve been away and I’ve been on the outside looking in,” Dr. Knost said. “And I think folks that have been around and have felt a little bit of the turbulence from the last couple of years, they may not feel that as much anymore. But Rockwood is a great place.”

Dr. Knost said Rockwood has been lacking one thing: leadership.

“It’s just been starving for some rock solid leadership, which is what I’m ready to bring,” Dr. Knost said.

Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said Dr. Knost truly understands the Rockwood community and its students.

“He uses the word thrive, making sure kids thrive in life,” Dr. Mathison said. “And I think that’s what we’re about. It’s not just about the academics, its about making sure that they have many doors of opportunity that are open to them.”

He said based on conversations he’s had with the Superintendent, Dr. Knost really seems to care about the success of students and teachers.

“He’s about focusing on students, making sure our teachers at schools have what they need to do what they’re supposed to do which is to concentrate on kids and their learning,” Dr. Mathison said.

Dr. Mathison said Dr. Knost wants to understand every underlying issue, good or bad, because he wants to hear the whole story. He said Dr. Knost will bring trust and a passion for education.

Mason Smith, junior, said setting the goal of bringing more unity to the district as well as individual schools might be a good idea considering the lack of school spirit and pride students show.

“I think our school has very little school unity. Our attempts at school spirit seem ill-conceived and are poorly followed through,” Smith said.