All South Tech Faculty & Staff

Jacob Lohse

Principal

Jacob Lohse
Principal
314.989.7490
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Mr. Jacob Lohse has been an Administrator for South Tech High School since 2014. Jacob is responsible for instructional leadership and student success at South Tech. His experience began as an Industrial Technology Instructor in Saint Louis County prior to joining SSD as a Facilitator and Administrator at Tech.

“As a technical educator, it is my goal to partner with my colleagues at South Tech and our Partner Districts to help students discover their passions in life in order to create a pathway to a successful future.”
Karista Koehler

Assistant Principal

Karista Koehler
Assistant Principal
314.989.7402
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Ms. Karista Koehler has been Assistant Principal at South Tech High School since 2015. Prior to joining South Tech, she taught Biology at North Tech High School for 12 years. She holds degrees in Biology, Vocal Music and Education.
Bob Arcipowski

Precision Machining

Bob Arcipowski
Precision Machining
314.989.7430
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Mr. Bob Arcipowski is no stranger to precision machining; having spent over 20 years in the manufacturing industry, he gained experience in tool and die and CNC programming. Before joining South Tech High School in 2006, Mr. Arcipowski taught at Ranken Technical College for 16 years.
John Arndt

Automotive Technology

John Arndt
Automotive Technology
314.989.7436
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Mr. John Arndt has been in the transportation industry for 20 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2007. Before joining the South Tech team, Mr. Arndt spent 21 years in the Illinois Air National Guard and 16 years as a Ford service technician. Mr. Arndt has an associate's degree in Automotive Technology and a bachelor's in Workforce Education Development.
Kristen Barnett

Early Childhood Teacher Assistant
David Bass

Culinary Arts

David Bass

Culinary Arts
314.989.7460
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Mr. David Bass has been in the culinary arts industry for over 18 years and has worked in various positions, including executive chef at a local restaurant. Mr. Bass began teaching at South Tech High School in 2008 and has a culinary arts, baking, and pastry arts degree. He also holds a certificate in Chef de Cuisine from the American Culinary Federation.
Nick Beck

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

Nick Beck
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
314.989.7431
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Mr. Nick Beck has been in the HVAC industry for 12 years and began working at South Tech High School in 2015. Before joining the Tech team, Mr. Beck worked in residential and commercial construction.
Heidi Binggeli

Technology Facilitator

Heidi Binggeli
Technology Facilitator
314.989.7582
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Ms. Heidi Binggeli is an instructional technology facilitator for North and South Tech. She assists our instructors with integrating varied technological applications into their instructional practice. Before moving to this position, she taught in North Tech’s social studies department for four years. Ms. Binggeli holds a bachelor's in sociology, a master's in secondary social studies, and special education certifications, and is a Google for Education Certified Trainer.
Catherine Bollinger

Health Sciences
Amy Bryant

Health Sciences
Joan Cather

Student Support
Janine Cavanaugh

Health Sciences

Janine Cavanaugh
Health Sciences
314.989.7433
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Ms. Janine Cavanaugh has worked in healthcare for 28 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2010. Before joining the Tech team, Ms. Cavanaugh received her bachelor's in Nursing from SIUE and worked for a long-term healthcare provider.
Mary Cavanaugh

Special Education Teacher
Jeff Chandler

Counselor

Jeff Chandler
Counselor
314.989.7548
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Mr. Chandler began his career in 1991, working with children and families at Marygrove Children’s Center. While earning his master’s degree and working for the State of Missouri, Mr. Chandler pursued certification and employment in school counseling. He worked for St. Louis Public Schools and Riverview Gardens High School before joining North Tech in 2004 and South Tech in 2020.
Francine Davis

Graphic Design

Francine Davis
Graphic Design
314.989.7442
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Ms. Davis worked in the graphic design industry for over 40 years and began instructing at South Tech in 2000. As a member of the South Tech team, she is responsible for the yearbook and graphic design projects for the building. Ms. Davis enjoys seeing her students excited about design.
Emily Degenhardt

Instructional Facilitator

Emily Degenhardt
Instructional Facilitator
314.989.7484
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Mrs. Degenhardt is an experienced teacher who began serving as the instructional and assessment facilitator at South Tech in 2016. Before joining the South Tech team, Mrs. Degenhardt was a special education teacher for Special School District. Mrs. Degenhardt has a bachelor's in Special Education from Murray State and a master’s in Reading from Fontbonne University.
Sydney Dulaney

Early Childhood Teacher Assistant
Amy Eichorn

Student Support
Richard Fenoglio

Electronics & Robotics Engineering

Richard Fenoglio
Electronics & Robotics Engineering
314.989.7468
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Mr. Fenoglio has been teaching in our district for 16 years, serving as a master teacher and creating a curriculum for DESE. He began as the Electrical Trades instructor at North Tech and moved to South Tech to lead the Electronics & Robotics Engineering program in 2021. Before teaching, he spent 15 years in the industry as a commercial/industrial electrician specializing in low voltage and PLC automated systems and teaching as a first-year classroom apprenticeship instructor. He looks forward to preparing students for post-secondary studies in engineering.
JoAnne Fischer

Mathematics Instructor

JoAnne Fischer
Mathematics
314.989.7427
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JoAnne Fischer has 15 years of teaching, coaching, and administration experience at various levels. She holds a bachelor's in Mathematics and Secondary Education from SIUE and a master’s in Educational Administration from William Woods University. Mrs. Fischer has taught at Hazelwood Central, Timberland, Winfield, North Tech, and South Tech high schools.
Chuck Hardy

Paraprofessional

Chuck Hardy
Paraprofessional
314.989.8448 EXT. 2257
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Chuck Hardy joined the South Tech High School team in 2018. He started his career as a Naval Officer in 1981 and joined SSD in 2001 after serving in the military and working in the corporate world. Chuck has a bachelor's from the United States Naval Academy. Chuck enjoys sailing and collecting records and vintage stereo equipment in his spare time.
Angela Harrell

Pre-Professional Health Sciences Academy

Angela Harrell
Pre-Professional Health Sciences Academy
314.989.7449
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Ms. Angela Harrell has worked in healthcare for many years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2012. Before joining the Tech team, Ms. Harrell worked as a patient care technician in oncology and as a level 1 trauma center as an emergency room nurse. Ms. Harrell has a bachelor's in secondary education, and a bachelor's in Nursing and is a registered nurse.
Jenny Hartung

Attendance Secretary
Paul Heumann

Construction Trades

Paul Heumann
Construction Trades
314.989.7550
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Mr. Paul Heumann has been in the construction industry for 17 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 1999. Before joining the Tech team, Mr. Heumann was a brick-and-stone mason. He serves as the South Tech High authorized OSHA outreach trainer and has extensive knowledge of many aspects of construction.
Barclay Hirth

Electrical Trades

Barclay Hirth
Electrical Trades
314.989.7554
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Mr. Barclay Hirth began teaching at South Tech High School in 2011 and is a 2001 South Tech Electrical Trades graduate. Mr. Hirth obtained his electrical mechanics degree from Vatterott College and, in 2009, received his Independent Electrical Contractors Apprenticeship certification.
Donna Hobbs

Veterinary Sciences

Donna Hobbs
Veterinary Sciences
314.989.7551
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Ms. Donna Hobbs started working in a veterinary hospital as a teenager and has been working with animals ever since. She began teaching at West Tech in 1994 and relocated to South Tech in 2002. She has several certifications, including her Humane Education Specialist and Veterinary Forensics certificate. She serves as the lead advisor of FFA, NEA, and is an ACTE member. Over the years, she has partnered with many local animal rescue groups and animal control organizations, providing opportunities for students to work with and care for homeless pets.
David Hope

Firefighting & Emergency Medical Technician

David Hope
Firefighting & Emergency Medical Technician
314.989.7454
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Mr. David Hope joined South Tech High School in 2009 and serves as the Chief of South Tech's Fire and EMS academy. Chief Hope has been in the fire and EMS service since 1999 and is a Missouri state-certified firefighter and paramedic. He also holds over 30 other state and federal certifications, including being a state-certified fire, EMS, AHA, FEMA, and POST instructor. Chief Hope worked for seven years as a firefighter in Jefferson County and has worked as a paramedic for multiple hospitals and EMS agencies in the St. Louis area, including at the US Air Force at Scott Air Force Base. Chief Hope currently serves as the Chairman of the National Education Associations Career and Technical Education Caucus, representing CTE students and teachers nationwide on education issues.
Diana Johnson

Admissions Representative

Diana Johnson
Admissions Representative
314.989.7588
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Ms. Diana Johnson has been working in the field of education for over 17 years. Before joining the South Tech team, she worked as a CTE Retention Specialist and Coordinator of Dual Credit and Enrollment at St. Louis Community College. She holds a bachelor's in Elementary Education and a master's in Information Science & Learning Technology.
Angela Keyes

Zoology Instructor

Angela Keyes
Science
314.989.7465
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Ms. Angela Keyes began working for North Tech High School as the Science Instructor in 2015 and added teaching at South Tech in 2022. Prior to joining the North Tech team, Ms. Keyes worked for homebound and taught science at Jennings High School. She also taught at the Challenger Learning Center.
Suzanne Kirby

Pharmacy Sciences

Suzanne Kirby
Pharmacy Sciences
314.989.7459
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Ms. Suzanne Kirby started at South Tech in the fall of 2017. She has over 20 years of experience as a pharmacy technician, most of those years spent in hospital and outpatient infusion pharmacies. She has her bachelor's degree in Biology, which she earned at Missouri State, and earned her national certificate as a pharmacy technician in 2001. Before joining South Tech, she made chemotherapy at Pratt Cancer Center on the Mercy campus.
Eugenia Lechkova

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Eugenia Lechkova
Human Anatomy & Physiology
314.989.7477
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Mrs. Lechkova has been a science instructor for 28 years and began teaching at South Tech in 2001. Before joining the Tech team, she taught Science for 13 years in her home country, Bulgaria. Mrs. Lechkova has bachelor's and graduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and earned her teaching certificate from UMSL.
Ashli Lograsso

Cosmetology

Ashli Lograsso
Cosmetology
314.989.7581
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Mrs. Lograsso began her career in the beauty industry in 2005 and still works as a self-employed hairstylist and makeup artist in St. Louis. In 2011, Mrs. Lograsso felt a passion for contributing to the growth of today's young hairstylists and decided to join the education branch of the industry. Mrs. Lograsso taught for six years at Paul Mitchell School in St. Louis before joining the South Tech team in 2017.
Liz McDowell

Assistant to the Principal
Melissa Maness

Culinary Arts

Melissa Maness
Culinary Arts
314.989.7460
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Mrs. Melissa Maness has been in the human services industry for 15 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2008. Before joining the South Tech team, Mrs. Maness worked in various roles in the culinary industry.
Dustin Meyer

Floor Layers Middle Apprenticeship

Dustin Meyer
Floor Layers Middle Apprenticeship
314.989.7441
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Mr. Dustin Meyer has been in the construction industry for 8 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2015. Mr. Meyer began teaching after graduating from the Floor Layers Apprenticeship program at Bayless High School in connection with South Tech.
Katie Miller

Admissions Representative
Jessica Milward

Paraprofessional

Jessica Milward
Paraprofessional
314.989.7568
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Ms. Jessica Milward originally worked in the field of animal welfare but became interested in studying early childhood education when her oldest son was a preschooler at South Tech’s Early Childhood Center. Before joining the South Tech team, Ms. Milward worked in an employer-sponsored childcare center with infants and toddlers. She earned a bachelor’s from Ashford University in Early Childhood Education, specializing in infant/toddler care.
Albie Mitchell

Design & Entrepreneurship

Albie Mitchell
Design & Entrepreneurship
314.989.7578
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Mr. Mitchell joined South Tech in 2016 and holds a BA in studio arts and a master's in architecture from Washington University. He was a designer in St. Louis for over ten years. Mr. Mitchell has founded two design firms and specializes in design thinking, prototyping, custom fabrication, and architectural interiors. He has taught classes at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University.
Melissa Muldoon

Nurse

Melissa Muldoon
Nurse
314.989.7437
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Melissa Muldoon joined the South Tech High School team in 2019. She began her career as a pediatric nurse in 1993 and worked for several children’s hospitals before becoming a school nurse in 2013. Ms. Muldoon has a BSN from Rockhurst/Research College of Nursing. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time outdoors with family, enjoying the company of neighbors, and reading.
Michele Myers

CISCO Networking Academy

Michele Myers
CISCO Networking Academy
314.989.7515
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Mrs. Michele Myers has been in the information technology industry for many years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2013. Before joining the Tech team, Mrs. Myers attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated with a bachelor's in education. She also earned her CISCO Certified Entry Networking Technician certificate in 2013.
Ken Neuman

Auto Collision Repair

Ken Neuman
Auto Collision Repair
314.989.7435
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After graduating from South Tech High School in 1982, Mr. Ken Neuman went right to work at a body shop and has worked for 28 years as a professional technician in the auto body industry. Mr. Neuman began working for South Tech in 2010.
Carly Noel

Cosmetology Instructor
Megan Orban

Special Education Teacher
Phil Patterson

Language Arts

Phil Patterson
Language Arts
314.989.7443
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Mr. Phil Patterson graduated with his undergraduate degree in secondary English education from Indiana University and a master's degree in secondary administration from UMSL. Before working for SSD, Mr. Patterson worked at Riverview Gardens High School for 12 years.
Paul Petrus

Construction Trades

Paul Petrus
Construction Trades
314.989.7434
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Mr. Petrus has been in the construction industry for over 30 years. He started out working for small remodeling companies during high school and college. Eventually, he joined the Carpenters union and advanced to the level of journeyman. In 2008, he took an early retirement and began teaching at South Tech. As a member of South Tech, he enjoys coming to work and sharing his experiences with his students.
Sarah Presswood Rhodes

Admissions Representative

Sarah Presswood Rhodes
Admissions Representative
314.989.7451
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Ms. Sarah Presswood Rhodes has a bachelor's in Criminal Justice. Before joining the South Tech admissions team in 2017, she spent four years in property and real estate management. She also served as South Tech's attendance secretary.
Randy Prewitt

Automotive Technology

Randy Prewitt
Automotive Technology
314.989.7497
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Mr. Randy Prewitt has been in the automotive industry for over 20 years and began working for South Tech High School in 2003. Before joining South Tech, Mr. Prewitt worked as a repair technician at Dave Sinclair Lincoln. He has an associate’s degree in Auto Technology, a bachelor's in Applied Management, and is also ASE and EETC certified.
Destiny Quick

Early Childhood Teacher Assistant
Freda Reasor-West

Mathematics

Freda Reasor-West
Mathematics
314.989.7514
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Ms. Reasor-West has been the math instructor at South Tech High School since 2018. She has a master's in Education and is certified to teach Math, English, and Special Education. She is also a Google Certified Educator.
Ed Rieman

Automotive Technology

Ed Rieman
Automotive Technology
314.989.7528
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Mr. Ed Rieman has worked in the automotive repair industry for over 25 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2004. In high school, Mr. Rieman started in a full-service gas station/repair shop and moved on to a dealership. Through the dealership, he obtained ASE A1-A8 and L1 and Ford Senior Master's Certification. He also holds a degree from Ranken Technical College in Automotive Technology.
Katie Roberts

Early Childhood Education

Katie Roberts
Early Childhood Education
314.989.7423
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Mrs. Katie Roberts started working at South Tech in 2007 as a teacher's assistant in the Sunshine Room. She moved into the role of instructor in August 2016. She has a bachelor's in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Development from Missouri State University. She is working on her master’s in Early Childhood Education at Fontbonne University.
Loretta Schnurbush

Library Media Specialist
Alisha Scholer

Counselor
Jim Sheppard

Welding

Jim Sheppard
Welding
314.989.7429
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Mr. Jim Sheppard has worked in the advanced manufacturing field for many years. Before joining the South Tech team, Mr. Sheppard began his teaching career at North Tech. He also owned and operated Machine Company, which specialized in building custom machinery. Employees were skilled in machining, welding, and fabricating.
Patti Venturella

Web & Computer Programming

Patti Venturella
Web & Computer Programming
314-989-7444
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Mrs. Patti Venturella has worked in software and web development for over 25 years. Mrs. Venturella studied computer engineering at Missouri S&T. Before joining the South Tech team, Mrs. Venturella taught at North Tech and worked in software development for various St. Louis companies, including Boeing, Monsanto, and Ameren. Additionally, Mrs. Venturella was an IT instructor at Washington University, UMSL, and Saint Louis University.
Kristin Vergano

Dental Sciences

Kristin Vergano
Dental Sciences
314.989.7458
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Ms. Kristin Vergano has been in the dental industry for 10 years and began teaching at South Tech High School in 2015. Prior to joining the South Tech team, Ms. Vergano worked as a dental hygienist and histotech and became the first tutor for the dental hygiene program at Forest Park.
Jen Werges

Law Enforcement
Matt Westhoff

Carpentry

Matt Westhoff
Carpentry
314.989.7487
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Matt Westhoff joined the South Tech High School team in 2018. He started his career in carpentry in 2003. Matt graduated from Ranken Technical College in 2002 and joined the St. Louis Carpenters Union in 2005. In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors.
Deanna Witt

Social Worker
Mimi Wren

Early Childhood Teacher's Aide

Mimi Wren
Early Childhood Teacher's Aide
314.989.7423
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Mrs. Mimi Wren first started at South Tech as a high school student, graduating from the Early Childhood program in 1999. She began working in the department as a teacher assistant in 2005. Mrs. Wren received her associate's in Early Care and Education from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and is now working on her Bachelor’s Degree through Grand Canyon University.
Erica Zengerling

Veterinary Sciences

All South Tech Faculty & Staff

Jacob Lohse

Karista Koehler

﻿Bob Arcipowski

John Arndt

Kristen Barnett

David Bass

Nick Beck

Heidi Binggeli

Catherine Bollinger

Amy Bryant

Joan Cather

Janine Cavanaugh

Mary Cavanaugh

Jeff Chandler

Francine Davis

Emily Degenhardt

Sydney Dulaney

Amy Eichorn

Richard Fenoglio

JoAnne Fischer

Chuck Hardy

Angela Harrell

Jenny Hartung

Paul Heumann

Barclay Hirth

Donna Hobbs

David Hope

Diana Johnson

Angela Keyes

Suzanne Kirby

Eugenia Lechkova

Ashli Lograsso

Liz McDowell

Melissa Maness

Dustin Meyer

Katie Miller

Jessica Milward

Albie Mitchell

Melissa Muldoon

Michele Myers

Ken Neuman

Carly Noel

Megan Orban

Phil Patterson

Paul Petrus

Sarah Presswood Rhodes

Randy Prewitt

Destiny Quick

Freda Reasor-West

Ed Rieman

Katie Roberts

Loretta Schnurbush

Alisha Scholer

Jim Sheppard

Patti Venturella

Kristin Vergano

Jen Werges

Matt Westhoff

Deanna Witt

Mimi Wren

Erica Zengerling

Bob Arcipowski