The new principal of Jessie Duncan School in Penhold is bringing a passion for literacy and years of experience to the job.
Trudy Henry started teaching for what's now called Chinook's Edge School Division in 1990 at the Penhold School.
Since then she's taught in Benalto for several years and then moved up into an administrative role within the division.
“I was vice-principal of Poplar Ridge School for the past five years,” she said. Now she's learning a new school.
“I was ready to take on that challenge of being a principal,” she said.
With three new teachers and four new educational assistants, she's not the only new face in the halls. “This is a year of change for our school,” she said. Some changes that were made right away involved tackling the organization of classrooms.
Jessie Duncan has a history of having a strong literacy program, she said, and she's hoping to continue that legacy.
“Literacy is a passion of mine,” she said. She noted she's been an early literacy coordinator as one of her roles in the district.
Reading isn't the only priority at the school. This year, the school has a teacher working on a pilot project to help increase numeracy, something Henry said the school will benefit from.
A focus on numeracy is part of an Alberta Initiative for School Improvement, she said.
This year will see the students and staff at Jessie Duncan try and help the planet even more.
“We're going to be expanding our recycling efforts in the school,” she said.
The outgoing principal, Karen Norton, had been at the school since it opened in 1984. Henry said it hasn't been too tough taking over as everyone had been prepared for the change.
“I'm just thrilled to be here,” she said.
One of the things that excites her about working at Jessie Duncan, which has students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 2, is joining Penhold's group of educational institutions, which includes Penhold School and the high school that's to be opened in 2014.
“I'm glad to be part of a community of schools,” she said.
CESD Superintendent of Schools Kurt Sacher said she's a great teacher and leader.
“Trudy Henry just has outstanding interpersonal skills,” he said.
Students will appreciate her funny bone, he said.
“She has a wonderful sense of humour,” he said. Parents will be happy with her ability to listen to them, he said, while staff will appreciate that she's a longtime teacher and vice-principal.
He said Henry's a “fabulous” choice for principal of Jessie Duncan.
