Governing Board approves four new principals;
Two others recently appointed;
Selection process continues at another school

The Governing Board approved the appointment of four principals at its meeting Tuesday, June 10, increasing the number of new principals for the 2003-2004 school year to six. The Board also accepted the resignation of the District’s director of pupil services who has accepted a position with the Arizona Department of Education.

Among the transfers approved Tuesday is Desert Mountain High School Deputy Principal Anne-Marie Woolsey, who will become the principal at Arcadia High School. Additionally, Assistant Principal Mike Duff, who is working at both Aztec and Navajo elementary schools, will become the principal at Cheyenne Traditional School.

Tere Peterson, who has worked in Tucson, Casa Grande, and in different schools in California, will become the principal at Cocopah Middle School. The fourth new principal is Lesa Friend, who currently is a principal in the Isaac School District in Phoenix, and who will become the principal at Tonalea Elementary School.

Most recently, on May 13, the Governing Board approved the appointment of Jan Howard as the principal for Cherokee Elementary School. Mrs. Howard currently is an assistant principal at Cocopah Middle School. And previously, on April 8, the Governing Board approved the appointment of Katie Root as the principal at Laguna Elementary School, where she is serving as the assistant principal.

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

“We have recommended to the Board a group of principal candidates that have a real commitment to children,” said Barbara F. Erwin, superintendent. “They are bringing experience, energy, and enthusiasm to their new positions; and we are excited to have them step into these leadership roles,” Dr. Erwin added.

Each of these candidates was advanced to the Governing Board following a process that included interviews by teachers, parents, and others at the campus level, explained Kim Cumby, executive director of Human Resource Services. This process is just beginning at Cochise Elementary School, she noted, and a recommendation for that principal position is expected this summer. Cochise Principal Brenda Hacker recently submitted her resignation to accept a principalship in another district. Mrs. Hacker has been with the Scottsdale District for 19 years, beginning as a speech/language pathologist and special education teacher, before becoming an assistant principal and then a principal.

“It’s not uncommon at this time of year to see movement within districts and across districts,” Mrs. Cumby said. “School districts throughout the state and across the country have all types of positions posted, including those for principals and other administrators, teachers, and secretaries.”

This year is more unusual than most in the Scottsdale Unified School District, given the Early Severance Plan being offered to all SUSD employees who have 10 or more years of service. If the threshold is met for eligible employees to participate in the plan, then additional vacancies are expected to occur, Mrs. Cumby said. The final results of the early exit program are expected June 18.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda was the resignation of Joanne Phillips, director of pupil services. Ms. Phillips held this position since 1991, overseeing the District’s special education program. Ms. Phillips has accepted the position of Arizona Deputy Associate Superintendent for Exceptional Student Services with the Arizona Department of Education.

Following is additional information about new principals and those who are leaving.

Arcadia High School

Anne-Marie Woolsey has served as deputy principal for the past year at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, the District’s largest high school with 2,300 students. She will take the helm at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, which has 1,160 students. Arcadia’s current principal, Jim Lee, submitted his resignation to accept a leadership role in the neighboring Paradise Valley School District as an assistant superintendent. Mr. Lee has been with the Scottsdale District for 19 years.

Prior to her current position at Desert Mountain, Mrs. Woolsey served as an assistant principal at the school. She began her career with SUSD as a vocational teacher at Coronado High School in 1992. She also taught math at Saguaro High School.

Mrs. Woolsey has a master of arts degree in marketing and distributive education from the University of South Florida, a master of business administration in international management from Golden Gate University, and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kent State University. Her administrative certifications are from Arizona State University and the University of Phoenix.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to become Arcadia High School’s principal and to be a part of the Arcadia community,” Mrs. Woolsey said. “As an educational leader, I am committed to creating a school climate of high expectations for student achievement and an environment where there is a heartfelt belief that ALL students can succeed.”

“My leadership direction and motivation can be summarized by a Lou Holtz quote: ‘Good, better, best, never, never rest, until the good is better and the better is best.’ I am committed to leading Arcadia High School to be the best,” Mrs. Woolsey said.

Cheyenne Traditional School

Mike Duff has been with the District for two years as the assistant principal at Aztec and Navajo elementary schools. He will step into the position as principal at Cheyenne Traditional School, a K-8 school of choice, which has an enrollment of 928 students. Mr. Duff is replacing Mario Ventura, who submitted his resignation to accept a principal position in another district closer to home. Mr. Ventura has been with the District for three years, two as principal at Cheyenne.

Mr. Duff worked as a teacher in the Glendale Elementary District and as an assistant principal at Omega Academy in Phoenix before coming to Scottsdale.

Mr. Duff has a master of arts in education in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University.

“I am extremely excited about being the principal at Cheyenne Traditional School. I look forward to working with the students, parents, and staff to uphold Cheyenne's strong academic tradition,” Mr. Duff said.

“Mike is committed to the District and working with the Cheyenne community,” said Mrs. Cumby. “In addition, he has indicated that he is planning to attend Spalding training as soon as possible and will be working with the outgoing principal to make for a smooth transition to Cheyenne.”

Cocopah Middle School

Tere Peterson will bring many years of experience from the middle school level when she assumes the position of principal at Cocopah Middle School, which has 1,170 students. Dr. Peterson will replace Monica Nelson, who resigned to take a position as principal in the Amphitheater School District in Tucson to be closer to her family. Mrs. Nelson most recently has been with the District for five years, and also has worked in SUSD from 1975 to 1984.

Dr. Peterson began her career in education as a fifth-grade teacher at an elementary school in Casa Grande, Arizona. She also was a teacher and department chair in Tucson before moving to California, where she has worked as an assistant principal, an adjunct professor, and most recently as a principal. She has worked in San Diego, Encinitas, and is coming back to Arizona from a principalship at Grant Middle School in Escondido.

“I am really excited to be coming back to Arizona and to work with the students and the community at Cocopah; to take the students to the next academic level,” Dr. Peterson said.

Dr. Peterson has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of San Diego; a master’s degree in education, supervision and administration from San Diego State University; and a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from East Stroudsburg State University in Pennsylvania.

Tonalea Elementary School

Lesa Friend spent most of her educational career in South Dakota and brings a range of experience at the elementary school level. She will assume the leadership role of principal at Tonalea, stepping into the vacancy left by Bernny Valdez Jr., who resigned to accept a principalship in another district. Mr. Valdez has been with the Scottsdale District serving as Tonalea’s principal since 1995. Tonalea has 550 students.

Mrs. Friend has 11 years of principal experience and also has served as a director of curriculum and as an instructional technology specialist. She also has been an elementary classroom teacher for 19 years

“We believe her wealth of experience and the ability to collaboratively work with the Tonalea team will benefit the Tonalea community,” Mrs. Cumby said.

“This feels like home,” Mrs. Friend said. “Tonalea feels like a community; that is truly what I’m about. This is not a solo mission, and I am excited to have so many parents and teachers who want to be involved,” she said.

Mrs. Friend has a master’s degree in educational administration from South Dakota University, and a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Cherokee Elementary School

Jan Howard’s appointment as principal at Cherokee Elementary School for next year was approved by the Governing Board May 13. Cherokee has 730 students. Mrs. Howard assumes the reigns at Cherokee from Katy Cavanagh, the principal of Mountainside Middle School who was tapped to serve as interim principal after Chris Meisinger was placed on administrative leave. Mr. Meisinger resigned as principal in March.

Mrs. Howard has a long history with the District . . . all the way back to when she was in kindergarten at Yavapai. The Chaparral graduate also attended the former Paiute Elementary School, Tonalea Elementary School, and Cocopah Middle School, where she currently is one of the two assistant principals. Mrs. Howard has been an assistant principal at Cocopah since 1999.

Her teaching career with SUSD began in 1980 at Arcadia High School, as a theatre teacher. She also has taught at Chaparral, Cocopah, and Mountainside Middle School.

“Mrs. Howard has an outstanding background in education and brings a unique perspective to the job,” Mrs. Cumby said.

In addition to being a former student, and working in four of the District’s 33 schools, Mrs. Howard is the daughter of a former Cherokee Principal—Jacqueline Taylor, who is now retired.

“Education is about children, teachers, parents and the community working together to help children learn how to be successful,” Mrs. Howard said. “I believe we do this through both change and constancy. In public education we have the opportunity to help develop children who will be capable of becoming autonomous, thinking, feeling and behaving productive members of society,” she said.

Mrs. Howard has a master of education in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree in education, with a theatre arts major, from Arizona State University.

Laguna Elementary School

Katie Root was selected as Laguna’s new principal, after serving as the assistant principal for the past two years. Laguna has 715 students. Dr. Root is filling the position held for the past five years by Dr. Keith Powell, who retired after 23 years with the District.

Dr. Root joined the Scottsdale District in 1993 as a sixth-grade teacher at Yavapai. She continued teaching at Yavapai until become an assistant principal at Laguna in 2001.

“Dr. Root brings extensive knowledge in curriculum and instruction,” Mrs. Cumby said. “Having served as the assistant principal at Laguna, Dr. Root is known by the staff, students, and parents, which will make for a smoother transition.”

"It is an honor and privilege to serve the Laguna community that is so well known for its master teachers, strong parental involvement, and student academic excellence,” Dr. Root said. “I look forward to carrying on these traditions the previous leadership has firmly established at Laguna."

Dr. Root earned a doctorate in education, administration and supervision from Arizona State University. She also earned a masters degree in administration and supervision, and a bachelor’s degree with an education major and mathematics minor, from ASU. She also has an administrative certification and an English as a Second Language certification from ASU.
#