Parents and students will see a few new principals in the district in school this week. Springfield Plains, North Sashabaw Elementary and Andersonville elementary all have new leadership.
Jen Johnson is the new principal at North Sashabaw Elementary. This will be her fifth year in Clarkston Community Schools, which included serving at the middle school as assistant principal and interim principal.
‘I am eagerly awaiting the start of the school year and most of all meeting and connecting with students and families,? she said.
She has served in education for 19 years, including 14 in elementary education.
Johnson said North Sashabaw Elementary is beginning its third year as a “Leader in Me” school.
‘It’s an exciting time to be an educator,? she said, ‘and the most obvious shift in education is getting students to not only engage in what they are taught, but grappling with its complexity.
‘It is no longer enough to ask a student to retell what was just told to him/her, rather we want to know from our students, ‘What makes you say that?? or ‘how might it be different,?? she said.
Johnson said teachers and staff are passionate and committed to working collaboratively to create and plan a learning environment that is safe and nurturing for every child.
Matthew Gifford will serve as the interim principal at Springfield Plains while the district searches to permanently fill the position sometime next year.
‘I have been at this building for 12 years,? Gifford said. “I am very honored and excited for the opportunity to fill the position.”
He has always been very active at the school, and was very involved with kick starting the Cultures of Learning at Springfield.
One of the district’s strategic goal areas is to encourage active learning and intellectual curiosity, by creating an environment that values and supports thinking.
Cultures of Thinking and Learning is a district wide approach initiated by Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock to advance innovative ways of thinking and learning.
Gifford was also a presenter at Harvard University’s School Graduate School of Education Project Zero conference here in Clarkston in 2012. Education is changing fast and he is honored to be involved in such enormous change, he said.
‘I’m very grateful to serve both the students and their families at Springfield Plains,? he said. ‘My goal is to have a positive impact on students.?
Gifford was present at the Aug. 2 Board of Education meeting when he was officially hired for the job.
‘I am very honored,? he said after being congratulated by board members.
Kim Fletcher is the new principal at Andersonville Elementary this year. Fletcher said she is very passionate about children and learning.
? I look forward to partnering with you to provide a warm, safe, engaging learning atmosphere for our students,? she said. ‘I am elated to work with you as a partner in education to ensure your child’s social, emotional, and academic needs are met.”
Fletcher added as principal she will work with staff to focus on culture, relationships, character education, fostering a nurturing safe environment for children.
Fletcher said goals will be accomplished by consistently implementing instruction strategies to increase student achievement while also providing an exciting and challenging enrichment learning environment.
She is looking forward to meeting new students and families and her door is always open to anyone wishing to talk or express concerns.
Fletcher has worked with CCS for 16 years, including positions as a teacher and administrator. Her most recent position was in the central office as administrator of Curriculum, Assessment, Professional Learning and Grants.