The little boy’s ears burned as his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Cheeks, called his name. Anxiously getting out of his chair, he headed to the front of the classroom, terrified to see her holding the expository paragraph he had written. His shoes squeaked underneath him and he braced himself for the reprimand he must be getting over the quality of his writing, for he had never felt confident in his writing before. But his thoughts were interrupted when Mrs. Cheeks announced to his classmates that Jimmy Wipke’s paragraph was perfect and had no mistakes, something the little boy had never dreamed of. A smile covered his face as he headed back to his desk, beaming with pride and holding a newfound confidence and love for writing and school. It was this moment that would set him on a path to teach students, coach athletes, raise four children, write a book and lead multiple school districts.

Ladue superintendent Jim Wipke was born in St. Louis to a nurse mother and an electrical engineer father. As a kid, he was incredibly active, filling his days with activities ranging from piano lessons to multiple sports practices.

“I thought I was going to be a NBA basketball player,” Wipke said. “I wanted to play some kind of professional sport. I went through a phase where I thought I could be a professional golfer.”

Family was a large part of Wipke’s childhood and remains so today. He grew up closely with his older sister, Chrissy Wagner, and was heavily influenced by her and their parents.

“[My parents] gave me a very loving, caring home,” Wipke said. “They wanted to make sure that we had the best that we could possibly afford. They valued education. They knew that education was extremely important. They wanted to provide as many opportunities as they possibly could for us as a family. I feel very fortunate to have had the mom and the dad that I have had. They instilled family values within me, and they always put family first, which influences me today.”

Even though Wipke was a sports-oriented child, he still faced setbacks in his athletic career. These eventually led him to focus on soccer and find success in it.

“He had tried out for baseball in high school, and his [friend’s] dad was the coach, and the coach had to tell him, ‘We think you should focus on soccer, the baseball thing isn’t going to be for you,’” Wagner said. “It really hit him hard, because he always wanted to succeed. [But] he just put 110% into soccer, which is what the coach suggested, and that has been a huge part of his life. It just shows that he is able to pull from something that might have otherwise seemed negative and then build it into something even bigger and better. He’s very determined to just make the most of everything.”

While education wasn’t always Wipke’s career plan, it became clear to him through his participation in Rockwood School District’s after school program, where he discovered his passion and also met his wife, Jennifer.

“I can remember playing kickball with the kids, and I’m like, I’m getting paid to do this,” Wipke said. “This is as close as ever to being a professional athlete, because I’m playing [kickball] with kids and I’m getting paid. I felt like not only did I have fun with the kids, but I felt like they enjoyed having me around. I felt I was able to give them some good advice even at a young age. I was just in college at the time, and I had had some teachers that had meant a lot to me throughout the years, and I thought maybe I would like to do that.”

Wipke graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Harris-Stowe State University. He has served roles in education all across the spectrum, from fifth-grade teacher to principal and eventually superintendent. His decision to pursue administration was largely due to the family values he upholds.

“To be honest, I loved teaching,” Wipke said. “I loved coaching, and I thought I was going to teach and coach forever. My wife was teaching first grade, but when we had our kids, I needed to get a master’s degree, because when you get your master’s degree, you can climb up in salary. So I thought maybe I need to get a master’s degree in administration, and then I could broaden my lenses a little bit. If we didn’t make a decision to have Jennifer at home with the kids, I may have just said, you teach, I’ll teach, and not gone into administration. So that was life-changing.”

While his job has taken many different forms, one aspect of his schedule has remained constant: coaching. As a former collegiate soccer player himself, Wipke prioritized coaching his children in an effort to maintain a close relationship with them, regardless of his work commitments.

“As we decided to have Jennifer come home, I was like, ‘I need to bring in a little more revenue,’” Wipke said. “So then I started [coaching] girls and boys soccer, and then I did basketball. But then my kids started to get older, so as I moved into administration, I kept coaching them in soccer. All of our kids went to college and played soccer, so I had a blast. Over the course of coaching Jamison, Jordan, Jill and Jacob, we’ve won 15 state championships through soccer. I really got to stay connected to kids by coaching them.”

Wipke’s devotion to family doesn’t go unnoticed by those around him. Now, he makes an effort to priorize his wife Jennifer, their four kids and three grandkids.

“My dad in particular made a huge impression on him,” Wagner said. “He was a really big family man. Family was the most important, making sure that support was given to family at all times, [and] being focused on making sure that we always felt secure and safe. I think my brother has taken that and carried that on to his family and his kids.”

Wipke’s father, Dennis, was a role model and mentor throughout his life. As a kid, Wipke had many formative memories with him, but one stands out. At 11-years-old, Wipke decided to take the keys to his mom’s car.

“I could barely see over the steering wheel,” Wipke said. “I started to press on the brake to slow down as I’m backing out of this driveway, but the car didn’t slow.  So I pushed harder, and the car went faster. I did a 360 in the car, hit a mailbox, and then my car stopped on top of a fire hydrant. I can remember [my dad] pacing back and forth. I did get grounded, but he showed so much empathy, and he knew that I was really beating myself up already. So that was a life lesson that when someone’s down, you don’t kick them down further. There’s a time and a place for everything, and you try and build them up.”

Wipke was inspired by Dennis’s resilience as well. At 47, his father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he battled with until passing away in 2019. That year was also Wipke’s first at Ladue, Dennis’s alma mater.

“My dad went through Parkinson’s and was a fighter,” Wagner said. “[He was] very strong and didn’t let it take him down as quickly as it could have. I think my brother gets a lot of his strength and his focus on being able to weather the storm from my dad.”

As superintendent, Wipke’s days are packed full of school visits, cabinet meetings, calling parents and tending to any other needs the district may have. His executive assistant, Fern Wagstaff, helps to keep his day in line and, in turn, has become close friends with Wipke.

“In working with Dr. Wipke, [it’s] not just being his assistant, but being his friend,” Wagstaff said. “I remember taking the role and talking to other people, they were like, ‘you’re on an island. It’s only the two of you.’ So you build a relationship with someone, not just professionally, but personally. Knowing that he’s leaving, I’m happy for him, [but] it’s a little bittersweet. I know the next superintendent will move us forward, but I will miss my friend.”

Over the summer, Wipke made the decision to retire at the end of the school year, marking seven full years. While the decision to leave was not taken lightly, he looks forward to putting time into what he values most: family.

“I’m a little nervous [to retire], but I’m most excited to be able to hang with the grandkids a little bit more,” Wipke said. “There’s nothing better when you get home, and the grandkids are over there, and they come running up and give you a big hug. That means a lot to me, so I’m going to enjoy more family time.”

To maintain relationships, Wipke makes the most out of small amounts of free time. From runs with his running partner to quick phone calls with Jennifer during car rides to visit schools, he stays connected with loved ones.

“The hardest part of this job is you don’t ever have work-life balance,” Wipke said. “You just don’t. So you try and find work-life harmony.”

While the career of superintendent poses many challenges, ultimately the positives outweigh the negatives to Wipke. His favorite part of the year is graduation.

“When kids walk across the stage and they grab their diploma, I have such a sense of pride that I’m a little part of that, and that now they have multiple doors of opportunity to walk through,” Wipke said. “Not only that they’re going to be successful, which that’s really exciting, but they’re also going to be quality citizens and help society as a whole.”

During his time at Ladue, Wipke adopted a motto of “See, Serve, Connect” that he feels embodies his purpose. As the title of his podcast and part of his mission statement, he hopes it has allowed him to do good in the community.

“His motto really resonates with me, because it’s not just for students,” Wagstaff said. “I think it’s for all people. When you see someone, when you do what you can to help them, you’re serving them and connecting with them. It’s making those relationships meaningful and relatable and sharing a part of yourself.”

Wipke can often be found popping into schools to see students and staff. He aims to start each morning at the high school, where he catches up with students. No matter the time of day, Wipke is often taking selfies.

“Sometimes I think people misread why I take selfies,” Wipke said. “You probably think, ‘Gosh, does that guy really have to be in every picture?’ But honestly, I like to capture moments. I want to remember how [I was] a part of that. I also think it’s fun, because it’s built up a little bit of a following where people are like, ‘Are you gonna put that on Instagram? I want to see it.’ It’s really not about me being in the picture. I can save it, and I can remember it.”

As Wipke prepares to close his chapter at Ladue, he reflects on his career. In a culminating event, he has written a book that is set to be published in the winter.

“It’s called Your Life Incorporated, and it deals with a couple of questions that I’ve had over time in education,” Wipke said. “That’s something I worked really, really, really hard on for two years, working on weekends and getting coached by an author. So I’m really looking forward to that. I don’t know how good people will think the book is, but I’m like, I always wanted to do it, so I got it done.”

Wipke believes if his younger self knew where he ended up, he would’ve never believed it. Now, he has advice that he wishes he had known before his father’s passing.

“Take a breath,” Wipke said. “It is all going to be okay. You can do so many things at the age of 25 that you can’t do at 54, so really take time. Absorb everything that your dad can tell you, because he’s not gonna be around forever. That would be the main thing. Because when you’re 54, he’s not going to be there. If I would have known that, I would have done something different.”

One of Wipke’s goals is to lead a purposeful life. This mission influences his decisions in his relationships and career, and is recognized by those around him.

“Everything he does, he is all in,” Wagner said. “He really does live to help others, specifically students, reach their fullest potential. He thrives on that. That’s his legacy. He gives 110% and puts that into the people that he loves, and it’s a genuine commitment to just helping people be their absolute best.”

Wipke’s all-in attitude is reflected on the mark he’s left on the Ladue district from his time as superintendent. Through his decisions, personal connections and mission statement, he hopes he will be remembered fondly.

“I hope I’ll be remembered as someone that always put students first and foremost and changed the world just a little bit for the better,” Wipke said. “I want to be remembered for a person that loved his family with all of his heart and lived his life with passion and purpose.”

The school district prepares to turn the page on Wipke’s tenure and hire his replacement. While he may not know who will fill his role, he knows the district is in good hands and looks forward to his retirement spent with loved ones.

“I would give them advice, enjoy every moment, even the ones that are frustrating,” Wipke said. “You have now inherited the best school district in the nation. Take time to listen, take time to learn. Enjoy every moment because it’s a very special place to be.”