HCCSC's Board of School Trustees approved Elizabeth Kitchen and Rachel Yarger as the new principals of Salamonie Elementary School and Crestview Middle School during Monday night's board meeting.
Kitchen takes over as Salamonie's principal following Dawn Collins' departure for a position in another district. Kitchen has served HCCSC for five years, most recently as the Middle School Professional Development Coordinator, and has 21 years of teaching experience at Lancaster Elementary School, Riverview Middle School, and Haverhill Elementary School in Southwest Allen County Schools.
"Elizabeth has served many roles in her positions and demonstrated an expertise in the use of blended learning tools, technology and curriculum," said Superintendent John Trout. "Elizabeth has also worked with other teachers in our district, developing learning initiatives and blended learning pedagogy. Tonight, I am telling you that she was instrumental in the data that I showed you up around synchronous learning. Elizabeth has been an incredible driver in this process for us as a district, and we are blessed, and I mean that to you in all honesty, to have you in the district and everything that you've done."
Yarger assumes the Crestview principal position after Chuck Werth's departure from the district. Yarger has spent the last 11 years serving HCCSC, most recently as an assistant principal at Huntington North High School. Yarger has also served as an English teacher, department chair and student council co-sponsor throughout her time with HCCSC.
"Rachel was clearly our leading candidate through this, and we're thrilled to recommend her," Trout said.
Yarger was unable to attend Monday's meeting, but will be recognized at the July 17 meeting.