Medical Lake principals exchanging positions
Two principals in the Medical Lake School District are swapping jobs this fall.
Mike Dahmen, principal at Michael Anderson Elementary, will become the principal at Medical Lake Middle School, and Dale Lamphere, principal at the middle school, will become the principal at the elementary school.
Dahmen has worked in the Medical Lake School District for 33 years. He’s a graduate of Eastern Washington University and received his graduate degree from Gonzaga University.
He became curriculum coordinator in 1991 and has been the principal at Anderson Elementary, then called Blair Elementary, for the past 10 years. While Dahmen has worked primarily with the K-6 age group, he’s spent time coaching middle school-aged kids and older.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with older kids. It will present a whole new opportunity,” said Dahmen.
Lamphere, also an EWU graduate, has been principal at Medical Lake Middle School since the fall of 1999. Prior to that, he was the assistant principal at Pines Junior High in the Spokane Valley.
Lamphere said it’s not unusual for school districts to move administrators within a district. And just as Dahmen is looking forward to working with older kids, Lamphere said he’s looking forward to working with younger kids.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to do something different. Change isn’t always bad,” said Lamphere.
Cheney High looks for new principal
Cheney High School Principal Debra Clemens has accepted a new position as director of human services for Cheney Public Schools.
Clemens, 39, was an assistant principal at Cheney High School for five years before becoming principal in 2002.
Clemens said she made the change to have more time to spend with her husband and 3-year-old daughter. Clemens was a teacher trainer and curriculum developer in Minneapolis before coming to Cheney.
She earned her doctoral degree in leadership studies at Gonzaga University.
A new principal will be named by late June.
LC senior a Presidential Scholars finalist
Lee Pearson, a senior at Lewis and Clark High School has been named a finalist in the 2004 Presidential Scholars Program. Semifinalists were selected from more than 2,700 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and involvement in community and school activities.
Ten students from Washington state were named semifinalists, five from the east side.
Pearson is a National Merit Finalist and an Eagle Scout and was also a recent recipient of the first-place prize in science at the annual Spokane Scholars banquet.
Next year he plans to attend Duke University in North Carolina.
Junior Achievement cites adults
Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest has recognized three educators and three classroom volunteers for exceptional service to the organization. Junior Achievement educates students in kindergarten through 12th grade about business, economics and the free enterprise system. The organization affects more than 8,000 students in the Spokane area.
The individuals were recognized May 18 at a Volunteer Teacher Recognition event held at Spokane Falls Community College. The event was sponsored by Costco.
The individuals recognized are:
Jill Ferguson, Regal Elementary School, Elementary School Teacher of the Year; Alicia Thompson, Bank of America Bankcard Center, Elementary Volunteer of the Year; Ellen Gillespie, Garry Middle School, Middle School Teacher of the Year; Margaret Jones, Johnson Rountree, Middle School Volunteer of the Year; Dannette Driscoll, North Central High School, High School Teacher of the Year; and Chuck Lund, Allstate Insurance, High School Volunteer of the Year.
Hutton PTA garage sale
The Parent-Teacher Association at Hutton Elementary will hold a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 2407 S. Helena Court. The sale will feature a large variety of items, including furniture, antiques, collectibles, clothing and books.
Proceeds will help the PTA underwrite library books, computer supplies, special events and educational aids.