The Johnston City Board of Education is pleased to announce Mr. Josh Pietrantoni as the next Superintendent of the Johnston City Community Unified School District #1, effective July 1st, 2025. Pietrantoni brings more than 20 years of experience to this role, having served the district as an educator, coach, and administrator.
“On behalf of the Johnston City Community Unit School District #1 Board of Education, I am proud to share our full support for the appointment of Josh Pietrantoni as the next Superintendent of Schools, following the retirement of Kathy Clark,” says Mr. Chris Cullum, Johnston City School Board President.”
Mr. Pietrantoni received his Associate's degree from John A. Logan College, his Bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and two Master's degrees from McKendree University. The first 13 years of his career were spent working as a special education teacher at Johnston City High School, where he also coached football, wrestling, and track.
Since then, he has held numerous leadership roles, including assistant principal at Johnston City High School and Washington Middle School, athletic director at JCHS and WMS, and principal at both JCHS and WMS.
Most recently, Mr. Pietrantoni served as assistant superintendent, working closely alongside Superintendent Kathy Clark over the past year in preparation for her retirement on June 30th, 2025.
“Over the past year, Josh has demonstrated outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to student success, and a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with the values of our district,” Mr. Cullum adds. “We are deeply grateful to Kathy Clark for her dedicated service and the positive impact she has had on our schools and community. As we transition, we are confident that Mr. Pietrantoni will continue this legacy while bringing fresh energy and ideas to support our students, educators, and families. We look forward to working closely with Josh as we continue to advance excellence in education across the district.”
Mr. Pietrantoni is excited to serve our students and their families in this leadership role.
“I am truly blessed and humbled by this wonderful opportunity, he says. “I’ve had the privilege of being part of this district as a teacher, coach, parent, and administrator for over 20 years. During that time, I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in both our school district and community. I’m grateful to be a part of that journey and look forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation we’ve set in motion.”
During his tenure at Johnston City Schools, Mr. Pietrantoni has made significant contributions to the school district:
2023 IPA Shawnee Regional High School Principal of the Year
Expanded the high school Career Technical Education programs by adding a Greenhouse course, food courses, marketing courses, and welding and electrical systems courses.
Added dual credit classes in Art and Foreign Language.
Created two Career Pathway Programs: a social worker pathway and a Construction craft management pathway.
Started Freshman Orientation evening event for all incoming 9th graders.
Mr. Pietrantoni and his wife, Tessa, have been married for more than 20 years. They are the proud parents of two kids (Sydney and Noah) and a dachshund (Bella). Sydney is a 2025 graduate of JCHS who played volleyball and softball, was a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Peer Mentor, and was Student Council President. Noah is entering his sophomore year at JCHS, where he plays football, basketball, and baseball for the Indians.