Sedro-Woolley School District officials are scouting for a new principal at Big Lake Elementary School as the current leader is relocating within the district.
After working two years at the elementary school, Rob Guy will no longer serve as the school’s principal as he begins working as the district’s new science coach in September.
Sedro-Woolley is one of 15 school districts statewide to receive a grant for a science coach, district officials said. The position could help improve science education at the middle and high school grade levels.
Guy said although he will miss working with the Big Lake community, he looks forward to pursuing another avenue in his professional life. He accepted the position earlier this month.
“Science is the most enjoyable thing I’ve done in teaching,” Guy said. “I love the absolute wonder and delight in a child’s eyes when they understand a concept or make an informed prediction and see it come true.”
As a science coach, Guy’s duties will include working with middle and high school science teachers, focusing on instructional strategies and ultimately improving students’ proficiency levels in science, said Paul Page, the district’s associate executive director of learning programs.
The idea is that both the science teachers and coach will work as a team and reflect on what’s happening in the classroom, said Page, who will supervise the position.
The district is fortunate to have someone fill the position who already works within the district and holds a strong science background, Page said.
“I think Rob brings a good amount of experience in terms of his own classroom experience, as a principal and his significant science experience,” Page said.
Guy said he has taught science to all elementary grade levels and has worked within the Sedro-Woolley School districts for about 28 years. Seventeen of those were spent teaching at Big Lake, nine as a principal at Mary Purcell Elementary School and the last two at Big Lake.
The school district is teaching some “good quality science,” Guy said.
He said he is looking forward to providing support to the district’s science teachers.
District officials, however, are just beginning the search for a new principal as the application pool was closed today.
Officials will hold an initial interview, followed by several others to widdle out the best candidate, said Darrell Heisler, the district’s executive director of human resources.
Parent involvement is encouraged during the process of hiring the new principal as they can participate with the initial screening, join the interview committee or attend the campus tour at Big Lake when the district has a better idea of their candidate, Heisler said.
“The school district is looking for somebody who can come in and work with staff and parents,” he said. “And can continue the great work Big Lake’s been doing so far and continue to do better.”
The position will continue to be a part-time principal and part-time teacher position, with a salary range of $75,848 to $87,028 depending on the new hire’s experience, district officials said. They hope to fill the position by July.
Big Lake is kind of an ideal place, Guy said.
“I’ve been out here a long time,” he said. “I’m not looking forward to not seeing all the kids, but know I’ll be doing something to help them out in the long run.”
