PES Assistant Principal Leslie Ackermann (left) and incoming principal Dr. Amy Dill
Perryville Elementary School will welcome a new principal on July 1, when interim principal Jeff Steffens retires.
Dr. Amy Dill of Poplar Bluff will join Assistant Principal Leslie Ackermann at Perryville Elementary School, which serves 420 students in Grades 3-5. She has served as the elementary principal at O’Neal Elementary in Poplar Bluff since 2016, where she has led her students and staff to achieving 100% on the Missouri Annual Performance Report. The school is similar to Perryville Elementary in size, with 350 students and 53 employees.
She said she sought the opportunity to join District 32. “I really watched the website for an opportunity for which I was qualified,” she said. “I worked with Superintendent Dr. Jones in Poplar Bluff and am looking forward to working with her again, as well as the administration team in Perryville. They have reached out and been so welcoming.”
She has visited campus several times. “The District 32 campus is beautiful,” she said. “I am excited to lead a Grades 3-5 building. I want to get to know the teachers and the community, and bring to the table anything I can do to help the teachers and students.”
Mrs. Ackermann said that she shares Dr. Dill’s excitement. “I'm eager to welcome Dr. Dill into our PES school family,” she said. “Her positive energy and amazing knowledge base will greatly benefit our school. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together next year!”
Dr. Dill earned her teaching degree from Missouri State University, and a masters of education in educational administration with K-12 administrative certification from Southwest Baptist University. She earned a specialist in education in educational administration in 2012 from Southwest Baptist University, where she earned a doctorate of education in 2016.
She began her career in 2000 as a special education teacher at Macks Creek R-V schools. In 2007, she moved to Houston R-I as a third grade teacher, and she became the elementary school counselor in 2009. She then served as the district’s director of special services from 2010-2015 while also serving as the elementary principal. In 2026, she accepted the position of director of special education at the Exceptional Child Education Cooperative where she served 13 school districts and oversaw the teaching, therapy, and diagnostic staff.
Dr. Dill has also served as an adjunct professor at Southwest Baptist University where she taught school administration, curriculum and instruction, special programs, and special education courses.
Dr. Dill has two daughters. Moira, who is 18, is in nursing college. Her oldest daughter Caroline passed away in the fall after achieving her dream of becoming a teacher. When she isn’t working, Dr. Dill said she loves reading, hiking, cooking, and baking.