Feature Article September 25, 2002
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New Principal in Parham and Mountain Groveby Jeff GreenAnne Peace-Fast of Godfrey is no stranger to the northern schools of the Limestone Board. Her 22-year career has included stints at Hinchinbrooke School, and her activity as an arts co-ordinator has made her name familiar throughout the communities. So, when the principal of Land O Lakes PS and Hinchinbrooke PS resigned suddenly last June, it was a natural fit to make the two schools the first assignment as principal for her.
Anne
Peace-Fast has also been the vice
principal of twin schools in the Kingston area for the past few
years, so she is familiar with some the problems of running two
schools at one time.
Anne
Peace-Fast on the job in Mountain Grove
-photo Jeff Green
When
the News caught up with her at 10 a.m. one day near the end of the
first week of school, she was just preparing to leave Land O Lakes
PS and head down the Long Lake Road to Hinchinbrooke, where she spent
a few minutes talking about her new role.
I spend most of the day at Land O Lakes, she said, because the vice-principal is stationed here at Hinchinbrooke. It didnt make sense for me to start the day off here, however. If Im only going to be around for an hour and a half, it should be towards the middle of the day. So, Im running back and forth. At least thats my thinking so far.
With the administration of two more or less equal- sized schools, it would be easy for a school principal to get bogged down in details and become removed from the day-to-day life of the school. This is something to be avoided, according to Peace-Fast.
I have been in every class, every day so far, even if its only for a minute or two, she said, and I have plans to get involved in some sort of theatre productions in each of the schools; but Im not thinking about that yet.
At the end of her first school week, Anne Peace-Fast looked tired, but relaxed. The role of principal seems to fit her well.