SHARING CAREER & MARRIAGE

Cherie Fuemmeler, center, discussed where to display recognition plaques in the Oak Ridge Early Childhood Center with Linda Holt, left, and Misty Duke.

David Fuemmeler checked the operation of a computer printer with computer applications teacher Jill Lynn at Nell Holcomb School.

As superintendent of Nell Holcomb School, David Fuemmeler can often be found outside his office taking care of just about anything, including a defective room thermostat.

Cheri and David Fuemmeler share more than a marriage. They share a career.

The Fuemmelers, both 53 years of age, are school superintendents in Cape Girardeau County.

David Fuemmeler is in his ninth year as superintendent of Nell Holcomb School District, a rural elementary school district north of Cape Girardeau. Cheri Fuemmeler has been a superintendent since 1995, first in the Meadow Heights School District in Patton and for the last four years in the Oak Ridge School District.

The Fuemmelers live in Cape Girardeau, a short commute from both school districts.

They've been married for 33 years and have worked in education for nearly as long.

While it's rare for husbands and wives to both serve as public school superintendents, the Fuemmelers say they couldn't be happier with their take-charge jobs.

"We take pride in being a small district," said David. "You learn a lot about everything."

Cheri agreed. "We do it all," she said.

Both districts are similar in size. Nell Holcomb has 320 children in grades kindergarten through 8. Oak Ridge has 380 students in K-12.

The Fuemmelers say superintendents must be good managers of school district money and be viewed as trustworthy. Both districts operate on budgets in the $2 million range.

They also need a healthy sense of humor. "If you don't have a sense of humor, you won't last long in the business," he said.

"I enjoy my job. No two days are the same," he said. "There are always a new problem or new issue or a new success."

The Fuemmelers have spent their careers in public schools. Ironically, they are products of parochial schools. They met as students at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. Both hold undergraduate degrees in education and master's and specialist degrees in administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Cheri, who also has a counseling certification, worked in the Scott City district for 21 years before taking a job at Meadow Heights. For 16 of those years, she taught sixth grade. She then worked as elementary counselor and director of special education services.

In 1991, she was hired as elementary principal at Meadow Heights. She became the district's superintendent in August 1995.

Prior to coming to Nell Holcomb in 1991, David served as junior high and high school principal in Scott City.

In that job, he once kissed a pig for a school fund-raiser. Neither David nor Cheri have had that duty as superintendents.

They laughingly point out that is one duty that superintendents can delegate to school principals.

Cheri is one of the few female superintendents in Southeast Missouri.

David said Cheri gets along well with her male counterparts. "She fits in like just one of the guys," he said.

For her part, Cheri calls David her "mentor."

Although their administrative duties keep them out of the classroom for the most part, David and Cheri love to chat with students when they get the chance.

As superintendents, they deal with students and parents, as well as teachers, cooks, custodians and bus drivers.

Both start their work day early. David gets to school by 6:30 a.m. or 6:45 a.m. Cheri is at work by 7:15 a.m. most days.

"I pretty well maintain an open-door policy," said Cheri.

As superintendents, Cheri and David have to handle plenty of paperwork.

David said his stack of miscellaneous paperwork never diminishes.

The Fuemmelers have collaborated on more than their marriage. Their school districts have jointly secured grants to pay for school nurses and computers. The two districts share the expenses of operating a Parents As Teachers program.

But school isn't the only thing on their minds. At home, the Fuemmelers find plenty to keep them busy.

"On evenings at home, we don't talk shop much," Cheri said as she and David relaxed on a leather couch in their spacious home.

They enjoy the outdoors.

Both David and Cheri are used to being in charge at school. At home, David said, they share family chores.

"We just kind of get the job done," he said.