I am honored and blessed to serve as the principal at St. James Millstadt School, where I am dedicated to supporting our students, teachers, staff, and the entire school community. My teaching career began 21 years ago in the Granite City School District after I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Special Education Endorsement. I spent fifteen years as a classroom teacher at Maryville Elementary and later became a blended pre-k teacher at Prather Elementary. During this time, I also pursued further education, earning a Master's Degree in Teacher Development from McKendree University in 2008. I continued my professional development and received my Principal Certification from McKendree University in 2017 and my Learning Behavior Specialist I certificate in 2018, allowing me to work more extensively with students in special education.
My husband and I live in Glen Carbon, IL, with our two children and my mother-in-law. Our daughter, Lucy, is a sophomore at Father McGivney, and our son, Benjamin, is an 8th grader at Holy Family Catholic School in Granite City, IL.
My passion for working with children drives everything I do, and every decision I make is based on what is best for our students. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming, respectful, and FUN learning environment. I believe in fostering a school culture where all staff members are committed to the belief that every student can and will learn. At St. James Millstadt, we strive to go above and beyond to ensure that your child receives the best education with high expectations.
One of my goals this year is to get to know the students and parents at St. James Millstadt. My door is always open, and I invite you to stop by and visit if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to embarking on this new adventure together during the 2024-2025 school year!
Kristin Laws