Vernon School District has larger group to draw on for principals & vice-principals

Mar 15, 2024 | 2:00 PM

School District 22 has bolstered its Principal and Vice-Principal Pool to help fill administrative roles in Greater Vernon and Lumby as needed.

“The Principal and Vice-Principal Pool can be utilized to cover early retirements, illness, or other leaves,” SD 22 Superintendent Christine Perkins said.

“We thank the many who helped with short-listing, and two rounds of interviews.”

Candidates selected for the pool were chosen by a panel consisting of students, parents, CUPE and Vernon Teachers Association representatives, exempt staff, members of the Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, and School Board trustees.

The system allows for someone, who is prepared in advance, to fill in an administrative role when needed, with the School District stating it will help build capacity and career development.

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Along with bolstering the pool, the district has announced administrative changes at local schools.

Colline Johnson, the former principal of Coldstream Elementary, will become co-principal of Charles Bloom Secondary in Lumby along with current principal, Josh Gutknecht. Meanwhile, acting Bloom vice-principal, Tyler Hansen, will be leaving his job and moving into a counselling role in the fall.

Devon Tyssen, the current principal of Hillview Elementary, will become the next principal of Coldstream Elementary this fall. Also, Coldstream’s current vice-principal, Sarah Wick, will go on maternity leave next year, and her role will be filled internally.

Allish Mallow, the vice-principal at Silver Star Elementary, has decided to return to teaching students in the fall. She will be replaced by Mandy Jensen from the Principal and Vice-Principal Pool.

“[Jensen is] experienced, coming to us from SD 73 in Kamloops. She’s a mother of five, so we welcome all of her children to our school district,” Perkins told Vernon Matters.

“She’s been an educator for 20 years. She’s currently the vice-principal at Haldane Elementary School in Chase, and she’s very exciting to be moving with her family to take on the role of vice-principal at Silver Star.”

Perkins explained that, although Jensen wasn’t previously a member of the SD 22 team, she was still in the Principal and Vice-Principal Pool as she had already been interviewed and was top of the list to fill in for a vice-principal role.

No principal or vice-principal retirements are expected this year in the Vernon School District.

The aforementioned changes will take effect August 1, 2024.

by Liam Verster

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