Students at three School District 48 schools will get new principals next fall.
After five years at Spring Creek Elementary school principal Gerri Galloway will move to Garibaldi Highlands.
Taking over at Spring Creek will be Karen Saenger effective August 1, 2011.
"Spring Creek is a wonderful school, they have an extremely inclusive school culture, lots of supportive, involved parents, fantastic traditions, a great student body, experienced, committed teachers and I think it's going to be a wonderful opportunity for me - this will be my first principalship here in Sea to Sky," said Saenger. "We also have French immersion here at Mamquam as does Spring Creek and I speak French so it's also a great fit that way...I've always enjoyed addressing the kids in the hallway in French and encourage them to speak with me on the playground to add that extra enrichment to their program so I really look forward to doing the same thing at Spring Creek."
Currently Vice Principal at Mamquam Elementary she has a wide range of teaching experience at both the elementary and secondary levels and has taught in Ontario, the United States (Maine) and in Europe (Switzerland). Saenger has been an active participant and leader in school and district based professional development activities.
Saenger is currently enrolled in a Master of Education Degree Program at SFU. She has a Bachelor of Education Degree from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree (Honours), from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.She also has a Diplome d'Etudes Francais from Strasbourg University, in Strasbourg, France.
Saenger has extensive experience in the Biathlon - both as a past competitor in Europe and now as International Referee at such events as the Olympic Games, National, World Cup and World Championship Events.
Garibaldi Highlands principal Nick Pascuzzi is moving to Don Ross Secondary, and Don Ross principal of five years Christine Perkins will take over at Howe Sound Secondary School.
After four years at Garibaldi Highlands Elementary Pascuzzi, who was born and raised in the Sea to Sky corridor, is optimistic about his new assignment.
"It's got great staff and that age group I'm really looking forward to connecting with," he said. "The students there are up to two years older than what we have in elementary school at the upper intermediate end, and I'm very excited about this opportunity."
This fall Don Ross will serve Grades 8 and 9 only, moving away from its Grade 10 program. Current principal Perkins said he'll have his hands full with the new cohort.
"I think the toughest one will be for my successor, Grade 8 and 9 is a really challenging age and I think he's going to love it because there is lots of high energy at the middle years," she said with a laugh.
Pascuzzi and Perkins said they weren't given any official mandate to make changes, and both plan on gauging the situation as they come to know the students, staff and parents at their new schools.
"It's an age where students are going through a lot of changes emotionally, socially and they're finding out a lot about themselves and a lot about the broader community we live in and it's about being able to provide them with support and guidance through everything that they're going through and also that we provide them with excellent academic program and all the support they need to go through their growth changes," said Pascuzzi of his upcoming year. "It's already an excellent, well-run school with good students."
