As the principal of Hazelwood West High School, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone to an exciting upcoming school year! I wanted to share with each of you a little bit about myself.  I am returning to my 25th year in education. I was the former middle school principal of Hazelwood Central Middle School for three years, before deciding to move to Hazelwood West High School as an assistant principal. I have also served as a principal and assistant principal in the Ferguson-Florissant School District for 9 years and taught in the Saint Louis Public Schools, Hazelwood, Parkway, and Lindbergh School District. I am proud to say that I am a Lindbergh High School graduate as well. After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Missouri- St. Louis and Missouri Baptist where I received a Bachelor’s Degree, two Master’s Degrees, one Educational Specialist and Doctoral Degree in Education.  In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my five grandchildren (two of them are starting high school this upcoming school year) and my 10 year old son.  

I have been a proud Wildcat for my entire career with 2024-2025 marking my twenty-fourth year as an educator at Hazelwood West High School. My first sixteen years were spent serving West High students as an ELA teacher.  I then spent five years serving as an assistant principal, and I am currently in my third year serving as the associate principal.  I graduated with an undergraduate degree in English from Truman State University, a masters degree in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University, and then, most recently, a doctorate degree from Maryville University in Educational Leadership. 

Hazelwood West is one of the most diverse schools in the country and it is my mission to communicate that this diversity is what makes us “stronger together.”  It is well within our resources to ensure that the educational and social emotional needs of all students are met through rigorous academics, extra-curricular activities, and support systems.  I am proud to say that I have developed into a leader with the moral purpose of ensuring that all of our students have an equitable educational experience. 

As the Assistant Principal of Hazelwood West High School supporting Seniors for the 2024-2025 school year. I anticipate a most successful year as my team and I support the academic, social, and emotional growth of your student here at Hazelwood West. I possess over 21 years of educational experience and this will be my third year at West High School. My previous administrative experience has been 14 years as an Assistant Principal in the Ferguson-
Florissant School District. I have also completed my Educational Leadership Program at Maryville University to earn my Educational Doctorate degree in December 2013. My wife Stephanie, and our six children, have lived in the St. Louis area for the past 21 years. I am elated to bring my skills as an educational leader to your student’s school and to work with you as a partner in education to ensure your student’s success.

Along with the amazing staff, I will work hard to continue the success established at Hazelwood West by building strong relationships with parents, students, staff, and community partners.  We will focus on fostering a nurturing and safe environment for students, use data to inform and guide instruction, consistently implement strategies to increase student achievement, and provide enrichment opportunities for all students to participate in extracurricular activities. During the course of the year, it is my hope that we will work together to provide the students of Hazelwood West with the best possible opportunities to prepare them to be world class citizens ready to master the challenges of the 21st century with a solid foundation created here at our school. As Assistant Principal, my door is always open and I welcome your input. Please feel free to stop in or call to make an appointment to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make this the best year yet!

Cris Bunch, Ed.S

I am very excited to be returning to West High School for the start of this school year.  My deep commitment and passion for teaching and learning, along with supporting our students and their families so that we successfully navigate these last years of public school together, are the things that I treasure most about my role.

I’ve had the privilege of serving as a school administrator for the past three years at the middle school level and now I’m thrilled to be rejoining West High family for my second year.  I’m also honored to have been with many of our students and families over the past years, so we’ve had the opportunity to work together, build positive school relationships with each other, all while supporting their efforts and dreams in preparing them for college, career and life aspirations.   

This is also my 22nd year as an educator and most of my years have been right here in the Hazelwood School District.  My commitment to education and to life-long learning are among those things that I treasure the most, and they are the habits that I strive to pass along to all of my students in their journey as well. 

I am thrilled to be returning to West High School where I started as a science teacher more than 10 years ago.  I look forward to continuing to serve our students, staff and our beloved Hazelwood community so that together, we are our BEST at all times.  

“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”

I am honored to join the Wildcat family at Hazelwood West High School for the 24-25 school year.  My goal is to be an asset to the community, school, families, and students. My job is to ensure educational growth occurs for all of our students. We are striving toward excellence; our team will lead the way!

This is the beginning of my 26^th year in education; the journey began in 1999 with St. Louis Public schools.  I started as a substitute teacher at Turner Middle School. Unsure of my calling, I began to research which area I was most interested in, the field of education. In my research, I found one class at our local Community College, Pervasive Developmental Delay with Autistic features, the exact diagnosis of my twin son.  I knew at that time, this was my calling, my destiny. Since then, I have served as a Special Education Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal roles with St. Louis Public Schools. Beginning in 2008 and currently, I serve the Special School District in the Homebound department, where we provide services to students who are medically, emotionally, developmentally or behaviorally too fragile to attend traditional school.  

I received my bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne University in the area of Special Education in 2005 and a Master of Arts in Special Reading in 2007. In continuing my education, I attended Lindenwood University where I obtained a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in 2008, Educational Specialist degree in 2010, and recently completed my doctorate at Lindenwood University. I am excited about this work and look forward to growing with this family until the day I hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"!

Thanks in advance for all of your support. 

I have been in the field of education for over 10 years. I taught one year in the Riverview Gardens School District and served 10 years as a Family & Consumer Science teacher, Girl's Assistant Volleyball Coach, and Girl's Track & Field Coach.    This is my first year as an administrator at Hazelwood West and am looking forward to working with your families. I was voted Teacher of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. I graduated from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville this past May 2024 with a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership. My family consists of my husband and four son's. I did my student teaching here at Hazelwood West when I worked on my teacher certification and I am happy to be returning to Wildcat Country as an Administrator.