New faces in numerous schools will greet students
All four Spokane Valley school districts will have new principals greeting students this school year.
East Valley started Tuesday, and Freeman started Wednesday. West Valley starts on Wednesday, and Central Valley goes back next Thursday.
East Valley welcomes Anali Weatherhead to Trent Elementary School. Weathered comes from Spokane Public Schools and was hired to take the post left vacant by Mike Uphus, who took a principal post in a Post Falls.
At Otis Orchards Elementary, Mike VanMatre has moved from his post as assistant principal at Mountain View Middle School to take over as principal at the elementary school. VanMatre traded places with Tammy Fuller, who left the principal post at Otis Orchards to be the assistant principal at Mountain View.
Because of retirements and transfers, several changes are taking place in Central Valley schools.
Dave Bouge, former North Pines principal, has taken over at Bowdish Middle School. Gordon Grassi moved up to principal at North Pines, where he had previously been the assistant principal.
Dennis Rusca moved into the principal post at Horizon, where he also had been the assistant principal.
Evergreen, North Pines, Bowdish and Horizon will now share two vice principals. Sandra Allen will be the assistant at Bowdish and Horizon, and Evergreen Assistant Principal John Parker will divide his time between there and North Pines.
Former South Pines teacher Molly Carolan was hired as principal at Opportunity Elementary School. She fills the post left by Tammy Campbell, who left for a job with Spokane Public Schools.
In April, the West Valley School District announced several changes in staff after West Valley High School Principal Gene Sementi moved over to administration as an assistant superintendent.
Gary Neal is the new principal for WVHS. He had formerly been a vice principal at the school.
Pam Francis, who has been the principal at Seth Woodard Elementary School for 14 years, is the new principal at Centennial Middle School
At the district’s two alternative high schools, Larry Bush will be the full-time principal at Spokane Valley High School, and Cleve Penberthy has returned from sabbatical to be principal at Contract Based Education.
Jeff Smith has been hired as the principal at Seth Woodard Elementary. Smith was formerly the principal at CBE.
Robyn Davis will be the assistant principal at WVHS, having previously been an assistant at SVHS. Kerry Barsness has taken over as the assistant at SVHS. She moved from the City School, where she was an assistant principal.
Tom Moore is the new principal at the City School and will also continue as director of the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center.
Freeman School District students will have new principals at both the high school and middle school. Patrick Kane will take over at the high school and Jim Straw at the middle school.