204 E-News: District Names Principal at Fry

[doctorwho]

For those of you here from Fry, you should be doing hand stands IMHO. Kim is a cutting edge principle that a few years ago replaced a legend at principal at May Watts and did so in a nice transition. Look at Watts results over the years and you will be thrilled, and she is in the lead on the new technologies to move the SD forward. I can tell you Watts will miss her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Kim Stephens, a principal with a long history in District 204, will assume the principal post at Fry Elementary School next year.

Stephens started her career in District 204 in 1988 as a teacher at Brookdale Elementary. She went on to serve as an elementary school assistant principal, middle school teacher, and middle school assistant principal. In 2002, Stephens was appointed principal of May Watts Elementary.

While at May Watts, Stephens was pivotal in piloting the district’s data monitoring program to increase student achievement.

Stephens looks forward to working with Fry’s staff and parents. “I’m excited about working in a larger school and helping the staff as they implement the data monitoring program to best help students.”

Fry's current principal, Sharon Baskerville, announced she is leaving the district to work closer to her home in the south suburbs.

[momof3]

I don't understand this move. Why have 2 transition years at 2 different schools when you could have just one?

[doctorwho]

Maybe because Kim has one of the highest experience levels with the dashboard program that will be coming soon to all 204 schools, and she can make that transition easier at Fry, whereas the staff at Watts is well into training and execution. Just a thought.

[EagleDad]

Where I work, we call it "poaching"

[doctorwho]

Watts principal to bring new ideas to Fry Elementary

February 8, 2007
By BRITT CARSON Staff Writer
Kim Stephens will get a change of scenery this fall when she takes over as the new principal of Fry Elementary School.

Stephens is currently the principal at May Watts Elementary School. She will replace Sharon Baskerville at Fry, who is leaving the district to take a post closer to her home in the south suburbs.

"I find it refreshing to have a change every five to seven years," Stephens said. "I find it healthy for the administrator as well as for the building."


» Click to enlarge image

Stephens

Stephens has been principal at May Watts for the past five years. One of the biggest changes is the difference in the schools' enrollment, with May Watts having about 527 students and Fry having 871 students.
May Watts was one of the schools that piloted a new Indian Prairie School District 204 testing initiative to measure student achievement. The Dashboard program enables teachers to use a computer program to test students and monitor their progress on a weekly basis. The advantage is the program gives teachers instant results instead of having them wait for months for the results of state tests such as the Illinois State Achievement Test.

The staff at Fry currently are being trained on the program so Stephens is looking forward to helping them through the new system.

Stephens made the announcement to her staff on Tuesday.

"I will miss all the people at May Watts greatly," she said. "The parents are very supportive, the children are delightful and I have learned so much from the staff. This is really bittersweet. I feel this is a personal challenge and am always energized by change."

Stephens has been in District 204 since 1998 when she started teaching at Brookdale Elementary School, From there she moved to Crone Middle School where she later became an assistant principal.

Contact Britt Carson at [e-mail] or 630-416-5269.