Inside Our Schools: U-Hi principal candidates at forum
Central Valley School District will host a community forum to receive feedback regarding the three candidates for the principal job at University High School, 12420 E. 32nd Ave., Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Each finalist will speak for 30 minutes about their qualifications and answer questions from forum participants. Participants can submit written feedback about the finalists for consideration by the selection committee.
The three finalists are Kerri Ames, Andy Kelly and Alan Robbins.
Ames has been the principal at Barker High School in the Central Valley School District since 2008. She was previously an assistant principal at Rogers High School in Spokane, Spokane Valley High School in the West Valley School District, and West Valley City School. She has eight years of teaching experience in West Valley and holds a bachelor’s in education from Eastern Washington University and a master’s degree and preschool through 12 administration certification from Gonzaga University.
While she has been at Barker, the school has twice received the Washington Achievement Award for improvement, increased state assessment scores and renewed its accreditation.
Kelly is the executive director of Abeo School Change in Seattle, a position he has held since 2011. The nonprofit education reform organization works to bring high-quality education to students regardless of socio-economic status or ethnicity.
He has been in education for 21 years and has 18 years of administrative experience. He served as principal of Procter R. Hug High School in Reno, Nev., Roosevelt High School in Portland and Clover Park High School in Lakeland, Wash. He was also director of Yelm Alternative School in Yelm and assistant principal at Yelm High School and Chehalis Middle School in Chehalis, Wash.
Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Central Washington University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Heritage College.
Robbins has been principal at Columbia Falls High School in Columbia Falls, Mont., since 2007. During his time at that school, he developed a tiered intervention mathematics program and supported technology integration.
He has been working in education for 18 years with seven years of administrative experience. He served as principal of Lincoln County High School in Eureka, Mont., and taught high school mathematics for 11 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a teaching certificate in math and a master’s in education administration from Montana State University.
The finalist chosen will start at University on July 1 and will replace retiring Principal Daryl Hart.
For more information, call the district office at (509) 228-5400.