Dan Deschamp, Ph.D.
Central 1963
Dan Deschamp graduated from Central High in 1963. He graduated from Westminster College with a bachelor's degree in 1967, from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a master's degree in education in 1972 and from St. Louis University with a doctorate in 1980. He currently resides in Chesterfield, MO.
Dan is an assistant professor at Maryville University, but most of his career has been spent in public education, with many years in Parkway. Upon graduating from Westminster, he began working at West High, where he taught language arts and was selected teacher of the year. During his time at West, he also coached three sports, served as activities director and as an assistant principal. In 1981, he became the principal of West High. In 1984, Dan's experience in Parkway moved him to the administration building, where he served as an area superintendent.
The next year he moved to the Rockwood School District where he served as principal of Lafayette High, Marquette High and still serves as a consultant. One of his career highlights was opening Marquette High as the first principal and having responsibility for program and facility design, construction supervision, staff recruitment and selection and more. He also planned, supervised construction and opened the replacement facility for Lafayette High.
Professional highlights for Dan include receiving the initial National Secondary School Recognition Award and serving as a site visitor for that program. He was presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He has also received the ROSE award for excellence in Rockwood and served as a panelist for President Reagan's national forum on excellence in education. While in Parkway, he created and introduced school-based management to the district.