Dr. Erin Oligschlaeger is heading back to Moberly.

The Wellsville-Middletown R-I superintendent was named the new assistant superintendent over human resources, special programs and Title IX coordinator for the Moberly School District for the 2023-2024 school year. She will replace Dr. Bryan Thomsen, who was hired as the superintendent of the Macon R-I School District.

Oligschlaeger worked two years as a director of special services and guidance at Moberly before taking over the W-M superintendent job in 2020.

“I am very excited to return to the Spartan family and serve the Moberly School District in the role of assistant superintendent,” Oligschlaeger said.

On July 1, Oligschlaeger will join a central office administration staff that includes Parisa Stoddard, who is the district’s superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and Cristina Wright, who was hired as the district’s new superintendent in January.

“We are blessed to have an applicant for the assistant superintendent position who is experienced in district-level leadership and whose background in special education creates an ideal match to those of the central office administrative team,” Wright said. “We look forward to having Dr. Oligschlaeger on the team.”

Oligschlaeger was hired as W-M superintendent in November 2019, replacing Pete Nasir, who retired after the 2019-20 school year. She led a district that has three schools.

W-M School Board president Christine Rutherford said the opening of the superintendent position was posted as of May 12. Board members plan to start interviewing candidates by late May.

“I would like to ask the community and staff to be patient as we work to get the new superintendent hired,” Rutherford said. “I hope that whomever we end up hiring will be welcomed by the community and staff and that they will get the support and encouragement that they deserve.”

When Oligschlaeger started W-M superintendent duties almost three years ago, her first mission was creating a re-entry plan that included COVID-19 guidelines for the 2020-21 school year. Schools were closed for in-person learning in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

This year, Oligschlaeger helped campaign a $1.9 million no tax increase bond issue – which was called Proposition K.I.D.S. – that will help pay for improvements at the elementary and high schools. But the measure didn’t pass in the April 4 election.

Rutherford said Oligschlaeger will be missed.

“She has been an asset to our school and community,” the board president said. “Her leadership was invaluable through the days of COVID. Dr. Oligschlaeger has agreed to help assure a smooth transition between superintendents. For that, we are grateful.”

Originally from Monroe City, Oligschlaeger has a 21-year career in education that includes 17 years of administration. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree at Avila University and a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and holds an education doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She worked at the Park Hill and Eldon school districts and served as a superintendent at the Albany R-III School District from 2015-2018.

Oligschlaeger’s husband, Kevin, was a Wellsville native and a student in the W-M school district. Two of her children, Kennedy Rentfro and Sydney Oligschlaeger, graduated from W-M in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She also has a son, Leo.