Margaret Korte
Print/Podcast Editor
Dr. Samantha Smith was hired as the new assistant principal for the 2025-26 school year to replace Dr. Tony Gragnani.
It is Smith’s first year in the Webster Groves School District, but she has worked as an assistant principal in both the Maplewood Richmond-Heights District and in St. Louis Public Schools.
Smith said in her recent roles, she didn’t feel like she had a “home school” or community.
“I never left the work, but I kind of felt not at home,” Smith said. She wanted to “do more,” but still wanted to work with teachers and students.
Smith said she chose Webster because she appreciates the district’s “commitment to equity.” She’s looking forward to being part of another school community and “helping to support the administration and teaching team to meet their goals.”
Smith will also help with the mock trial team and said she would love to start a debate team at Webster.
Gragnani said the application process for the new assistant principal position was competitive, but Smith stood out because of her assistant principal experience at other schools.
“It was good to hire someone with that background experience,” Gragnani said.
Smith had “the knowledge to help us continue our journey at Webster,” Gragnani said. He said she also brings “a level of energy that will help us grow.
Gragnani said, “[Smith will] advocate for all students, giving students ample opportunity to be awesome.”
“I’m really excited to have Dr. Smith here,” Gragnani said.
Smith said the most important thing to her is service–to the community, to the school, and to others. Overall, she is “trying to support as well as I can.”
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Margaret Korte–Print/Podcast EditorThis will be Margaret Korte’s third year on ECHO staff. She made several contributions while taking journalism class her freshman year. |
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