Sperreng's Jennifer Tiller Named Middle School Principal of the Year

Principal Jennifer Tiller has been named 2011 Middle School Principal of the Year by the St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals (SASSP).

In a release issued by the Lindbergh School District, Tiller said she enjoys working at the middle school level where students are excited about learning and still discovering who they will be in life.

“We have an opportunity at this age to steer them toward success in the future,” Tiller said. “It is fun, and every day is an adventure.”

Along with her duties as principal, for the past two years, Tiller has led a Middle School Redesign Team to re-evaluate the district’s middle school program as Sperreng, one of the largest middle schools in the state, is split into two smaller campuses. This year, Tiller will leave Sperreng to become principal at Truman Middle School.

“Dr. Tiller is a true leader,” said Dayle Burgdorf, assistant principal of University City High School and president of SASSP. “I have worked beside her on both the SASSP and (Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals) boards and know firsthand that every decision is made with her students in mind. Dr. Tiller is an instructional leader who collaborates with her teachers to continuously challenge the students at Sperreng Middle School.”

Tiller’s 16 years of experience include four years as a high school English teacher and five years as an assistant principal in the Fort Zumwalt School District. She spent two years as an assistant principal in the Francis Howell district and the last five years as principal at Sperreng.