Principals, assistant principals and other administrators placed for 2018-2019 school year
BATTLE GROUND — Battle Ground Public Schools has announced additional administrative changes for the 2018-19 school year, including principals, assistant principals and directors.
The administrators will begin their new positions July 1.
Bottom, left to right: Kara Kent, Justin Pierce, Lori Schilling, and Julie Williamson. Photo courtesy of Battle Ground Public Schools
Principals
Lynnell Murray, the current assistant principal at Yacolt Primary School, will be the school’s new principal. Murray replaces David Kennedy, who will be the district’s new director of professional learning.
Assistant principals
Kelly Gorby, currently a special education teacher at Tukes Valley Primary School, will be the new assistant principal at Yacolt Primary School. Gorby replaces Lynell Murray, who is taking over as the school’s principal.
Kara Kent, currently an eighth grade English language arts and history teacher at CAM Academy, will split her time as an assistant principal between Glenwood Heights Primary and Laurin Middle School.
Rachelle Simmons will be the new assistant principal at Daybreak Middle School. Simmons is currently an eighth grade math and algebra teacher in the Longview School District. She replaces Justin Pierce, who is moving to Chief Umtuch Middle School.
Justin Pierce, current assistant principal at Daybreak Middle School, will be the new assistant principal at Chief Umtuch Middle School. Pierce replaces Matt Kesler, who is taking over as principal at Laurin Middle School.
Damen Hermens, currently the assistant principal at Glenwood Heights Primary School, will be the new assistant principal at Tukes Valley Middle School.
Erin Thompson, currently the assistant principal at Tukes Valley Middle School, will be the new assistant principal at Laurin Middle School.
Lori Schilling, current assistant principal at Laurin Middle School, will be the new assistant principal at Glenwood Heights Primary School.
Julie Williamson, currently the dean of students at CAM Academy, is transitioning to a new role. Williamson will spend half of her time as assistant principal at CAM, and the other half as the district assessment coordinator in the district’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department.
Neil Varble will be the new assistant principal at Captain Strong Primary School. Varble replaces Jennifer Kerr, who is taking a leave of absence. Varble is currently a fourth grade teacher in the Kelso School District.
Dean of students
Eric Sakshaug will be the Dean of Students at Battle Ground High School, while Andrea Wooster will be the dean of students at Prairie High School. These are new positions at the schools. Sakshaug is currently a seventh grade English language arts teacher in the Vancouver School District. Wooster is currently a geography teacher at Heritage High School in the Evergreen School District.
District administrators
David Kennedy, currently the principal at Yacolt Primary School, will be the new director of professional learning. Kennedy replaces Paula Koehler-Martin, who resigned.
All changes have been approved by the Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors and will be effective on July 1.
