District Honors Roosevelt Principal

Thu., Dec. 14, 2000

By Carlos Acevedo carlosa@spokesman.com

As a teacher, Janis Rust never really thought about becoming a principal.

It happened by mistake, she said.

“My principal at the time needed an occasional principal designee,” she explained. “I had not trained for that job, but once I got into it, I found I really liked it.”

In fact, Rust liked it so much she earned more credentials and became a principal herself. Rust is now in her seventh year as principal of Roosevelt Elementary.

On Tuesday, the Spokane School District honored Rust at school with the Dick Stannard Award for 2001. The award, renamed recently, is the district’s nomination for the state Distinguished Elementary Principal Award, to be issued in February. The state winner in turn will be eligible for the national award later next spring.

A crowd of friends, colleagues and parents looked on as Rust was presented with a plaque, roses and treats. Rust will be honored during a luncheon at Patsy Clark’s Mansion and is scheduled to be officially recognized at the next school board meeting.

“I was truly surprised,” she said. “I absolutely hadn’t a clue this was going to happen.”

Rust was selected by a committee of four elementary principals based on a nomination by Woodridge Elementary Principal Brian Melody.

Criteria for the award are purposeful and instructional leadership, resource development and interpersonal skills.

Rust was still reeling from her surprise late Tuesday.

“I think my staff was pleased I was so surprised,” she said. They presented her with seven dozen roses - roughly one rose for each staff member, she said.

Prior to her time at Roosevelt, Rust was principal of Pratt Elementary for three years, and she served as a teacher in various Spokane schools before then.

In total, Rust has been with the Spokane School District 20 years.

“I love being a principal because I feel like I’m making a contribution,” Rust said. “Our future depends on what we provide for our children today.”

Rust lives on the South Hill with her husband, Larry Rust. The couple have six grown children.

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