Hazelwood West High Principal Joe Dobrinic Leaving For Pattonville

Principal Joe Dobrinic is leaving the school and will be the new principal of Pattonville High School as of July 1, 2011.

He previously served four years as an associate high school principal at West High, as well as five years as an assistant principal at Hazelwood East Middle School. For five years prior to becoming a school administrator, he taught social studies at the school when it was named Kirby Middle School.

Dobrinic made the announcement to students and parents today via the school's email blast system "The Word from West."

"I want to inform you that I have been offered and have accepted the position of building principal at Pattonville High School beginning July 1, 2011," he said in the e-blast. "I will continue to faithfully and enthusiastically serve as building principal at WHS through the remainder of the 2010-11 school year."

"I will no doubt miss the relationships that I have developed with the students, staff, parents and the community of Hazelwood West High," Dobrinic said. "WHS is an outstanding school with a fantastic student body and a tremendous staff."

Dr. Mike Fulton, superintendent of Pattonville School District, said in a press release that Dobrinic will be a "great addition" to the high school.

"He is familiar with the Pattonville community," Fulton said in the release, "and he brings many years of experience as an educational leader at the secondary level that will be of great benefit to our students."

Dobrinic will replace Dr. Sara Keene, who that she would leave Pattonville High School at the end of June to move to Texas.

Dobrinic is a '88 Pattonville graduate. He is a Tiger and earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Missouri. He later earned a master's degree in educational administration and a specialist's degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University.

No word yet on a candidate search for his replacement, but Dobrinic did say at the end of his statement that the district has begun the process necessary to hire a new principal and ensure a smooth transition.