Board of Education Approves Hire of Dr. Christine Ries as Director of Gifted and Talented Education
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Board of Education Approves Hire of Dr. Christine Ries as Director of Gifted and Talented Education
The Rockwood Board of Education has approved the hiring of Dr. Christine Ries as the new director of gifted and talented education for the Rockwood School District, effective July 1. Ries replaces Dr. Dennis Rhodes, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
Ries has more than two decades of experience in the field of education. She currently serves as the founding principal of STEAM Academy Middle School and the director of gifted education in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, a position she has held since 2017. Prior to that, she served as the district’s elementary science instructional coach for two years and a fifth-grade teacher at Combs Elementary for 15 years. Under Ries’ leadership, STEAM Academy Middle was awarded the Missouri Gold Star School distinction in 2025. She has been honored with a number of teacher and principal of the year awards, including:
- Science Teachers of Missouri Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2013
- Ferguson-Florissant Teacher of the Year, 2013-2014
- Academy of Science-St. Louis and SunEdison Teacher of the Year, 2013-2014
- Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, 2015
- St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals Middle School Principal of the Year, 2021-2022
- Ferguson-Florissant Principal of the Year, 2023
- Jim L. King Missouri Middle-Level Principal of the Year, 2023
- National Association of Secondary School Principals Missouri Middle School Principal of the Year, 2023
Ries was an adjunct professor at Maryville University for two years and served for a year as a consultant for the Washington University Institute for School Partnership assisting in the development of the MySci Washington University curriculum.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a Master of Science in Education from Lindenwood University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Maryville University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education from the University of Missouri-St.Louis. She has also obtained her Gifted Certification and STEM Certification from Maryville University.
“I am excited to lead Rockwood’s Gifted and Talented program and continue growing as an innovative educator that is committed to excellence and student success,” said Ries.
She lives in Ballwin with her husband, four children and two chocolate labs.
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