There will be some staffing changes at Ponoka Elementary School for the 2008 and 2009 school year. Lois Spate and Dania Hill have been appointed as the new assistant principals of PES.
The current assistant principal, Mr. Kawahara has made the decision that he prefers teaching full time and will return to that. Currently he is almost full time administration and the two new assistants will be half time teaching and half time administration so it will work out almost the same according to PES principal Leslie Crawford. Having two assistants will also enable the school to have an assistant principal in each building.
Spate holds a Bachelor of Education with a focus on early literacy from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Arts in Leadership training from Royal Roads University in Victoria. She is also a graduate of the Wolf Creek Public Schools’ Leadership 2000 program. She started teaching as a Grade 3 teacher in Saskatchewan, joined Wolf Creek as a substitute teacher and then taught Grade 1 for 10 years. For the past seven years she has been teaching Grade 2 and the PES AISI leader.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the learning community of students, staff and parents of PES in this leadership position,” said Spate in a press release. “I look forward to working, learning, struggling and celebrating together as we create excellent learning environments and improve learning and achievement.”
Hill holds a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta with majors in physical science and secondary education and minors in French and math. She has over half of her Masters in Education from the University of Lethbridge in Education Leadership.
Hill has over 10 years teaching experience starting in Peace River and is currently at the Alix-Mac School.
“I’m excited and happy to join the community at PES,” said Hill. “This is a great opportunity and I look forward to the challenge, adventure and professional growth that are sure to come.”
Crawford is thrilled to have both women coming to work at PES with the skills that they bring to the school.
“I am very pleased to have been able to select highly qualified individuals such as these two fine ladies, who are also full of energy and enthusiasm for their new assignments in our school,” said Crawford. “I am very much looking forward to working with them on our future directions and achievements at PES.”
With the new administration in place PES will look to show them what the school is all about.
“We are a very student-centered school, focused on providing the best education possible to our students. This is in keeping with the direction that is common to all Wolf Creek public schools - that of Assessment for Learning,” said Crawford. “Another goal would be to continue our work in scrutinizing some of our programming and policies, in an ongoing effort to provide the best learning environment possible for all students at Ponoka Elementary School. Part of this goal would also focus on the Character Education and Anti-Bullying work we are undertaking, for the purpose of educating.”
Crestomere School administration is also having a shuffle for the new school year. Penny Muller has been appointed as the new principal of Crestomere. She started her teaching career in Stettler in 2002 and in July of 2007 she joined the Stettler Middle School as the vice-principal. She has a Bachelor of Elementary Education with Middle school focus and is currently enrolled in the Master of Education Studies Program at the University of Alberta, which will be completed in the fall of 2009. She also holds a social work diploma from Red Deer College.