It took a second try, but Mabel Rush Elementary has found its next principal in Nikiski, Alaska, administrator Lisa Callahan. According to assistant superintendent Dave Parker, the district found that just one of about 80 applicants really stood out as qualified after it first posted the position and did not feel that was enough to make a proper hire.
   
The district chose to post the job for an additional two weeks and attracted more than 40 applicants, including Callahan’s.

“She’s an experienced principal with a proven track record,” Parker said. “She’s done great things. She started into a school that was in sanctions and ended up bringing it out of sanctions. She was a great candidate for us.”

Callahan has served as principal at Nikiski North Star Elementary in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for the past five years, raising student achievement levels to their highest level in eight years.

After teaching elementary math, reading and music in the same district, Callahan took over as principal at Homer Middle School in Homer, Alaska. Her previous teaching experiences include time spent as an elementary music specialist in the Clark County, Nev., School District, as well as stops as an elementary and middle school music teacher in Palmer, Alaska, and in Bassett, Neb.

The staff and community at Mabel Rush expressed a desire for a leader who had experience and understanding in elementary education, especially in teaching literacy, according to Parker, who said Callahan wowed the hiring committee during her interview.

“When she was answering questions, she just knocked them out of the park,” Parker said. “She answered like I would expect an experienced, knowledgeable, excellent principal to answer.”

A native of Nebraska, Callahan holds a master’s degree in arts education administration from the University of Phoenix - Las Vegas and a bachelor’s degree in arts music education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

“I decided as a young child that I wanted to be a teacher, and right away in college, I pursued that,” Callahan said. “I’ve loved education ever since. I love teaching and I absolutely love working with children.”

After taking on administrative roles at both the school and district levels while she was still teaching, Callahan said moving from the classroom to administration seemed like a good challenge and a good fit, so she made the jump. She will officially begin her position July 1.

“My recent conversations in Newberg left me impressed with the dedicated faculty and supportive community,” Callahan said. “I look forward to a positive and engaging learning experience on behalf of the students and to leading the continued development of an excellent school.”

By Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic