Changes At The Helm Three Elementary Schools, Riverside High Begin Year With New Chiefs

Four North Spokane elementary schools have new principals. Here is a little about them and their plans for the 2000-2001 school year.

Lou Haymond, the new principal at Stevens Elementary, has been in education for 20 years, but he hadn’t taught in a standard classroom until about 10 years ago.

Instead, he spent about half of his career in education as a school psychologist and a special education teacher in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Haymond, 52, finished his teaching and administrative credentials at Whitworth in 1989. Then he taught fourth grade at Lynwood Elementary before getting his principalship at Balboa Elementary in 1994.

Haymond earned graduate and post-graduate degrees from the University of Idaho between 1972 and 1982, including a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1972, a master’s degree in counseling, a specialist degree in school psychology and a doctorate in special education.

Before he entered the education arena he worked as a pilot for the Air National Guard and as a computer operator in Pullman and Moscow, Idaho.

Haymond is looking forward to starting anew at Stevens, he said.

“I’m getting to know a new group of kids and finding out what their needs are. I have a lot to learn from them,” Haymond said.

Haymond said he hopes to take with him to Stevens a piece of the family atmosphere he is leaving behind at Balboa.

“(Leaving Balboa) was a hard decision, but I was ready for a new challenge,” he said. “The people (at Stevens) are willing to roll up their sleeves and help anyone who needs it. I’m thrilled to be here.”

There’s something fishy about Woodridge Elementary’s new principal, Brian Melody.

The veteran educator, who has most recently spent six years running Sheridan Elementary on the South Side, used to drive skiffs and haul nets as a commercial fisherman in Alaska.

“It really taught me the value of teamwork and that work ethic is rewarded,” he said.

And Melody certainly is a hard worker, according to his Sheridan staff.

“He is extremely dedicated to his position,” said fourth grade teacher Sherrie Skladany. “He attended a lot of evening functions that he did not have to in order to interact more with his students and his community.” Melody said he intends to bring that work ethic and the skills garnered over a 16-year career in education to his new job.

“I’m going to offer my experience, but mostly ask, `What are we already doing at Woodridge to help kids,”’ and focus on those things, he said. Melody is aware that - like any school - Woodridge is distinct, with its own culture and issues. He plans to work with students, staff and the community to develope a unique vision for the school.

“You need to be able to support teachers and kids and engage the community to make them feel part of the school, all in the effort to promote student learning,” he said.

Melody has been called a “kid advocate,” and he said he sees the education of today’s youth as a solemn responsibility.

When Melody isn’t at school, he enjoys water skiing and golf. He lives on the South Hill with his wife of 20-years, Patty, and their two children, Colleen, 18, who is off to study at the University of Washington, and Shannon, 15, a Ferris High School student.

Spokane native Cathy Comfort is taking over the position of principal at Balboa Elementary.

Comfort, 49, said so far the job is an easy fit for her.

“Coming to Balboa is like buying a brand new pair of shoes - when you slip them on they are comfortable right from the beginning,” Comfort said.

Comfort’s Spokane upbringing and the fact that she lives in the Balboa area help her seamlessly phase into her new environment.

“Being from Spokane allows me to be a real part of the Spokane Community and therefore have a greater understanding of the educational atmosphere and connection with the families that live here,” Comfort said.

Still, Comfort admits she has a lot to learn about the staff, parents school programs.

“I’m leaning the names of 365 students,” Comfort said.

“I need to work with the staff to identify the strengths needed to maintain the excellence in education kids are getting at Balboa,” she added, “and make sure as a staff our professional development is ongoing and we continue to be lifelong learners.”

Comfort, a West Valley High School graduate, earned her teaching and principal credentials at Gonzaga University.

Comfort began teaching in 1972 at All Saints Elementary School for a year, then she moved to All Saints Middle School.

Shortly after, Comfort taught as a substitute teacher while raising three sons and earning her master’s degree in administration and curriculum at Gonzaga University.

She taught fourth grade at Longfellow Elementary School, where she spent her last year as assistant principal before taking the job at Balboa.

Russell Brown is tantalized by academia.

His daughter, son, wife, brother, and daughter-in-law are all educators.

So when the retired teacher was offered a one-year principalship at Riverside High School, he couldn’t refuse.

Brown will serve as principal of Riverside for the next year while Mark Gorman is away on medical leave.

Brown, 60, retired with 33 years of teaching experience in 1995. He said he is excited to be back in the classroom.

“I saw this as a golden opportunity for me, professionally and personally,” Brown said.

Brown taught and served as principal and vice principal of Medical Lake High School from 1962 up to his retirement. He spent the last four years working in human resources and personnel for Prime Equipment in the Spokane Valley.

Brown earned his teaching and administrative credentials from Eastern Washington University.

Carlos Acevedo contributed to this story.