A message from the Superintendent

Oct. 19, 2011

Good afternoon,

Today I am announcing a change of leadership at Lawton Elementary School.

Christine Helm is stepping down as principal of Lawton Elementary School and is taking a position as assistant principal of Whittier Elementary. I want to thank Ms. Helm for her leadership at Lawton and her continued work in Seattle Public Schools. Ms. Helm is looking for additional experience and I know she has thoroughly enjoyed working with the students and families in the Lawton community.

I am pleased to appoint Dr. Neil Gerrans as interim principal for the 2011-12 school year. Dr. Gerrans, who has served as assistant principal at Lawton, brings a passion for education and a broad range of experience to this role.

Prior to joining the Lawton community, Dr. Gerrans taught grades 1-4 in U.S. public schools, instructed English language learners from primary-aged students to adults in Korea, and worked in outdoor education as a program director at a summer camp for youth. Dr. Gerrans works to create an engaging learning environment for students where they thrive and are stretched toward their potential. Before going back to school to become a certified teacher, Dr. Gerrans worked at McKinsey as a strategy consultant and earned his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon in computational electromagnetics.

The transition is effective on Monday, Oct. 24. I know the Whittier community will welcome Ms. Helm, who prior to joining Lawton, served for six years as a Head Teacher, Literacy Coach, and Elementary Teacher at Roxhill Elementary, Catharine Blaine K-8, and Highland Park Elementary Schools respectively. As a coach, she facilitated numerous staff professional development sessions in the areas of writing and balanced literacy instruction. She has coordinated grade level meetings and discussions reviewing student data and work samples in order to strategically plan instructional practices to improve reading comprehension strategies and to elevate every child’s craft of writing.
 
We will consider opening up a search for a permanent principal at Lawton in the spring. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please let me know.

Sincerely,


Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

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