Emily Koenig, principal of Perryville Primary Center, has been selected as the next superintendent of the Chaffee R-II School District. She will assume the role on July 1, 2026, following the retirement of Dr. Shawn Nix.
Koenig, who has spent her entire 25-year education career with Perry County School District 32, said she looks forward to bringing her experience in early-childhood education and community partnerships to Chaffee’s schools.
“Dr. Nix and I are already working on a plan to collaborate and make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible,” Koenig said. “I’m honored to be joining a district with such a strong sense of community and tradition. I’m excited to help continue the progress Dr. Nix has built for the staff, students and families in Chaffee.”
Chaffee Board of Education President Steve Seyer said the board was impressed by Koenig’s record of leadership and her vision for student success.
“Emily had the qualifications and skill set we were looking for in a new superintendent,” Seyer said in a district release. “We look forward to her continuing to lead Chaffee R-II in a positive direction.”
A Perryville native and Southeast Missouri State University graduate, Koenig began teaching in 2000 and moved into administration after earning her specialist degree in educational leadership. As the principal of Perryville Primary Center, she oversaw the district’s expansion of preschool access and early-learning readiness programs.
Earlier this year, she coordinated an initiative that doubled preschool classroom capacity — a move she said would “give every young learner the right start.” Koenig also helped launch a partnership with Mercy Perry Hospital to provide free on-site occupational-therapy screenings, calling it “a win-win for kids, families and staff.”
Reflecting on the coming change, she said leaving Perryville was bittersweet.
“This district and community have been my home for more than two decades,” Koenig said. “But I truly believe that every new opportunity is also a way to grow — and I’m grateful to bring what I’ve learned here to serve another community of students.”
The Chaffee Board announced Koenig’s hiring after interviews with three finalists. Nix, who has served as superintendent since 2016, will remain through the 2025-26 school year to help with the transition.
