Derek Philips hired as Pekin superintendent

PACKWOOD — The Pekin Community School District has hired a new superintendent.

The Pekin School Board hired Derek Philips during its meeting June 21. Philips will begin his duties in short order, on Friday, July 1. He is one of four new administrators in the district, with the other three positions being elementary principal, secondary principal and dean of students.

Pekin School Board President J.J. Greiner said the board’s contract with Philips lasts one year, but the board is hoping he will be here long-term.

“He’s a great guy. He’s very outgoing and energetic,” Greiner said. “We’re extremely excited and can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Philips is a local man who grew up just outside Keosauqua. He attended Van Buren County Schools, and graduated in 2003.

Philips said he was inspired by the teachers he had in the Van Buren School District, who showed him the valuable role educators play in a student’s life. In particular, he credits fourth-grade teacher Mark Church, math teacher Vicki Shepherd and English teacher David Paulek for inspiring him to enter the education field.

“Those three kept me on the right path for sure,” he said.

Philips enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa to study elementary and early childhood education.

“I knew right away I wanted to be in education, and I’ve never looked back,” he said.

Philips is a Panther through and through. He did all of his education at UNI, including getting his master’s degree, his reading and coaching endorsements, and later his superintendent endorsement, too. He said it’s fitting that he’s now a Panther in more ways than one, since he will become a Pekin Panther.

“I want to be a lifelong learner, to show my kids that learning never stops,” he said. “I want to start my doctorate as well, but I probably won’t start that in the fall.”

Philips first full-time job after college was in the Fairfield Community School District, where he taught fifth grade from 2009-2014. It was during his time in Fairfield that he met Jillian Bishop, a Fairfield High School graduate. The two married in 2012 and have four children together: sons Ryne, Reed and Rhett, and daughter Rorie.

After teaching in Fairfield, Philips was hired to be the assistant elementary principal in Ottumwa, a job he held for three years. He decided it was time to take on a larger leadership role, and found a job as elementary principal in Chariton, where he has been the past five years.

“I kept getting jobs farther west on Highway 34,” Philips joked. “And now I’m coming back.”

In addition to being elementary principal in Chariton, Philips also worked as the district’s special education director, which gave him the chance to work with students in all grades.

When Philips begins his job as Pekin superintendent, he and his wife will have three school-age children.

“Being able to lead a school for my own kids was really appealing to me,” Philips said. “I want what’s best for my kids, and I want them in a district that will provide them with what they need, which will benefit everyone.”

Philips said this is one of the first times that he’s excited to be working in July.

“We’re ready to put in the work and make Pekin the place I know it has the potential to be, and one people can be proud of,” he said.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com