Governing Board approves four new principals

The Governing Board approved the appointment of four principals at its meeting Tuesday, June 8, increasing the number of new principals for the 2004-2005 school year to five.

Among the transfers approved Tuesday were Coronado High School Assistant Principal Dr. Christine Loots, who will become principal at Aztec Elementary School; Chaparral High School Assistant Principal Drew Davis, who will become principal at Hopi Elementary School; Sequoya Elementary School Interim Principal Walter Chantler, who will become principal at Zuni Elementary School; and Ingleside Middle School Interim Principal Cindy Hans, who will become principal at Ingleside.

Most recently, on March 30, the Governing Board approved the appointment of Marilee McCracken as the principal of Sequoya Elementary School. Mrs. McCracken is currently the assistant principal at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center and Sequoya Elementary School.

All appointments become effective July 1, with the start of the new fiscal year.

Aztec Elementary School
Christine Loots, Ed.D. was selected as Aztec’s new principal after serving as assistant principal at Coronado High School. Aztec has 581 students. Dr. Loots is filling the position held previously by Tom Neuman, who has worked for the district for five years.

Prior to her position at Coronado High School, Dr. Loots was an assistant principal at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center for six years and taught at Ingleside Middle school for four years. She has worked for Roosevelt School District, Vernon School District in teacher training in areas of six traits, Gifted Curriculum, Madeline Hunter, EIS teaching strategies, ITI, Curriculum mapping, multigrading and aligning instruction with standards.

Dr. Loots earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and her doctorate degree from Arizona State University in Elementary Education, Multicultural Education and Curriculum and Instruction respectively.

“I am very excited to return to what I consider the roots of my educational approach. Having extensive experience with a similar model at ANLC with Carolyn Repp, I feel very confident about this placement, and envision an excellent future together with my new staff and community members,” said Dr Loots.

Hopi Elementary School
Drew Davis will bring many years of experience when he assumes the position of principal at Hopi Elementary School in Phoenix, which has 732 students. He has served as assistant principal at Chaparral High School for the past year. Mr. Davis is filling the position held previously by Susan Marshall, who is retiring from the district after nine years of service.

Prior to his position at Chaparral High School, Mr. Davis served as guidance counselor/student government advisor and teacher on assignment at the school. He has also taught humanities at Ingleside Middle School and was an assistant director of Cottontail Ranch Summer Programs at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

Mr. Davis has an administrative certificate from the University of Phoenix; a master’s degree in counselor education from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in secondary Education with an emphasis in English from the University of Arizona.

“I am thrilled to be the principal of Hopi Elementary. I have had wonderful experiences with the Arcadia community and am excited to rekindle old friendships as well as spark new ones,” said Mr. Davis. “Hopi has always had a reputation of excellence, and I am eager to be a part of this tradition,” Mr. Davis added.

Zuni Elementary School
Walter Chantler has served as interim principal at Sequoya Elementary School since November 2003. He will take the helm of Zuni Elementary School, which has 594 students. Mr. Chantler is filling the position held previously by Vikki Anderson, who is retiring from the district after 11 years of service.

Prior to his position at Sequoya Elementary School, Mr. Chantler was the director of SUSD’s evening and summer school, assistant principal at Tavan and Pueblo elementary schools, principal intern at T.J. Pappas Elementary and taught at East Valley Middle School and M.C. Cash Elementary schools.

Mr. Chantler earned a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University.

Mr. Chantler said, "I am very pleased at the opportunity to become a part of the Zuni educational team. The outgoing Principal, Vikki Anderson, has left me a real gift. Zuni is an excellent school and has a great reputation. I am proud to be the new Zuni principal and can't wait to start!"

Ingleside Middle School
Cindy Hans has been with the district for 12 years. She has served as interim principal at Ingleside Middle School since March 2004. She will take the helm of the school, which has 770 students. Mrs. Hans is filling the position held previously by Dr. Ruben Lara, who is now the district’s grant writer.

Prior to her position at Ingleside Middle School, Mrs. Hans was an assistant principal at Mountainside Middle School and also taught and served as a technology specialist. Additionally, she was a co-director of middle summer school at Ingleside.

Mrs. Hans earned a Master of Science degree Indiana University in education and a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University. She is continuing her education by taking courses at Scottsdale Community College and the University of Phoenix.

"I'm very excited to be chosen as principal of Ingleside. Ingleside and the entire Arcadia complex is rich in tradition and diversity and I look forward to working with the parents, teachers and students," said Mrs. Hans.

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