Shaw, Chase Principals Announced Glover, Bellingham Educators To Take Over Middle Schools

Thu., June 25, 1998

By Jeanette White jeanettew@spokesman.com

Two principals have been hired to fill vacancies at Chase Middle School and Shaw Middle School in Spokane.

Becky Holt, assistant principal at Glover Middle School, will take the top job at Shaw in north Spokane.

John Andes, a Bellingham middle school principal, will move to Chase on the South Hill.

The pair will replace principals who resigned for jobs in the Mead School District. Alison Olzendam of Chase is moving to Mead Middle School, while Pete Lewis of Shaw will become principal at Mt. Spokane High School.

Andes has spent the last four years as principal at Shuksan Middle School in Bellingham. Before that, he was the school’s assistant principal for four years.

Andes was a student teacher in Central Valley after earning his teaching certificate at Washington State University in 1978. He taught English and literature in Grandview and Tenino middle schools from 1978 to 1990.

Andes, who has two school-age children, said he and his wife are looking forward to the move.

“We love the city, love the climate. Both of us grew up on the West Side and have always wanted to get back on that side (East Side) of the mountains,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to a new challenge and a new school. It’ll be the first time I’ve been in a facility that’s as new and looks as nice as that.”

Holt has worked at Glover since 1995. Before that, she was assistant principal in Hilo, Hawaii, at an intermediate school.

She also taught for 17 years in elementary and middle schools in Sandpoint, Tucson, Ariz., and Kennewick.

Both Holt and Andes, whose hires were approved Wednesday by Spokane School District 81 board members, will take their new positions on July 1.

Lincoln Heights Elementary and Bemiss Elementary will also have new principals this fall.

Rick Haffner, who is the large school facilitator at Roosevelt and Stevens elementary schools, will move to Lincoln Heights. Current Principal Al Fein is retiring.

Haffner has taught third, fifth and sixth grades at Stevens Elementary. He completed his administrative internship there in 1995.

Lorna Spear is moving up a notch at Bemiss, from large school facilitator to principal.

In her most recent position, her duties included writing evaluations, managing budgets and coordinating professional planning days.

Spear has taught in the district since 1987, working at Finch, Browne and Bemiss elementary schools.

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