October is National Principals Month, and what better way is there to kick off the beautiful foliage and crisp air in Vermont than taking a moment to celebrate and showcase our principals.
At Franklin West, it is no secret that we have the MOST AMAZING principals! The plate of a principal is beyond full, and the core of their work is centered around growing and lifting up students, teachers, and families. Franklin West would not be Franklin West without these wonderful humans who bring visioning, compassion, energy, and expertise to their work. Take a moment to read what keeps their fires burning as educational leaders. And the next time you see these wonderful people, please be sure to pass on your appreciation and gratitude.
Thank you Denette, Steve, Liz, Geri, Karen, Tom, Heather, Melissa, and Dana!
Dr. Elizabeth Noonan
BFA Fairfax High School Principal
Liz:
"Seeing success in our schools is what fuels my fire. I love seeing staff working together and trying new things. Nothing is more rewarding than watching a strong, collaborative staff work together to lift up and support our students with their growth. As a high school principal, creating systems and environments designed to foster and grow student advocacy alongside my faculty is incredibly fulfilling."
Geri Witalec-Krupa
BFA Fairfax Director of Student Activities
Geri:
"This work is all about the students. Creating as many opportunities for them as possible, be it in the classroom, in performance venues, and on the playing fields is how we all help to grow and shape our students. All these opportunities contribute to making them the best individuals they can be and it is a privilege to play that role in their lives. "
Dana Gore
BFA Fairfax Dean of Students
Dana:
"I really enjoy working with students and watching them grow. In years past as a classroom teacher, I would have an effect on the group I work with and grow relationships, and then they would move on. With this new role I like to think I will continue to have an active role and impact on these students for the long term. To watch the growth that has already occurred from last year to this year is incredibly rewarding. "
Tom Walsh
BFA Fairfax Elementary School Principal
Tom:
"I am driven strongly by the kids. What a great job this is, that you get to spend every day with children watching them grow academically, emotionally and socially! They keep you young. I love cultivating a team of people and an environment where people can collaborate and support children, and have some fun. I’ve been really lucky to spend the last 24 years here. It’s a great place to be. "
Heather Baron
BFA Fairfax Middle School Principal
Heather:
"I’m driven by the students and certainly the best part of my job is being with kids! I believe all students deserve a great education and in our country we are lucky to have free public education for everyone as a hallmark of a democratic society. And that is a huge gift! As a principal I want to help create great schools so that we can invest our time in helping our students grow into the best people they can be. I feel lucky to be able to lead schools toward those goals."
Melissa Fisher
Georgia Elementary & Middle School Dean of Students
Melissa:
"My drivers are the students and that every day is a new day. It’s never monotonous in a school. There is always something new going on. And I’m really enjoying our staff! This year we have really built a great collection of middle school teachers and we are all getting to know each other across the school building. This is my 24th year here at GEMS and true to this moment, there are several spots throughout each day where I am laughing with students or staff. "
Steve Emery
Georgia Elementary & Middle School Principal
Steve:
"What I love most about the job is the excitement I have for the start of each school day. I love seeing children come into school and greeting them. We’ve set up a sound greeting system to meet each student every morning and give them a positive and welcoming moment to start their day. We provide a lot of presence in the morning in all of our spaces. It is definitely our kids who keep me coming to school everyday and loving it! I love to hear kids share the highlights about their weekends. It’s the relationships and student interactions that are so important. "
Dr. Karen Lehning
Georgia Elementary & Middle School Director of Teaching & Learning
Karen:
"Coming from being a classroom teacher, I feel a strong pull to work with teachers so that I can impact more students, teachers, and families beyond the reach of a classroom. I love contributing to the growth of our school systems as a means to supporting each of our students. We have the best teachers, students, and families at GEMS! And that makes this work even that much more rewarding."
Denette Locke
Fletcher Elementary School Principal
Denette:
"The thing that drives me in my work is my Fletcher Family. The students, the teachers, the families. They are all so important. The students who I get a chance to see grow, and their families, mean so much to me and my work, and the Fletcher Family phrase is a keystone to how I approach being a principal. It's the who and the why, and the love, of a people and a place."
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Danielle Drogalis
FWSU Data, Assessment & Title IX Coordinator