|
Susan Yoder Ackerman Named New Principal of Warwick River Christian School
by Jeanette Baer Showalter
Board members of WRCS could hardly contain their smiles following the board meeting Monday night, March 20. Susan Yoder Ackerman had agreed to become principal, ending a candidate search that had spanned several years. Glenda Mosemann, current administrator and principal, had been wishing to retire but graciously consented to continue until a suitable successor could be found. Mosemann, who began teaching at WRCS in 1978 and has filled the role of principal for the past seven years, also expressed her pleasure with the selection, stating, "I don't know anyone I'd feel more comfortable with taking over the reins." Knowing that Susan and new administrator/development director Gordon Zook would be heading the new administrative team, prompted Mosemann to add that she has "a settled feeling in her heart" and she expects the transition to be smooth with Susan and Gordon having a stabilizing influence.
On Wednesday, March 22, following the decisive board meeting of Monday, WRCS teachers and staff were given the news. "Those of us who know her were very pleased," says Mary Anne Leonard, who has taught fourth and fifth grades at WRCS for sixteen years. "She has a history with the school and understands its traditions."
Second grade teacher Jenny Shenk Mahone says that she knows the school is "near and dear to Susan's heart." Jenny and Susan are both alumni of WRCS, and Jenny applauds the choice of someone who has seen the changes the school has gone through, that this first-hand experience, she believes, is a primary requirement for the principal. Susan Ackerman has indeed seen and been part of many changes as a WRCS student, parent, teacher, and first director of the child care program in 1989.
Board chairman, Lynn Showalter, believes the foremost qualification required in the principal is a "strong belief in Christian education and depth of experience in a variety of educational settings." A graduate of the College of William and Mary, Susan Ackerman has home-schooled her children in Zaire and Mauritania, taught French in the Newport News public schools, and is a published author for both children and adults.
Susan left teaching to devote herself to full-time writing, so when approached about being principal, she initially did not see it "fitting into the picture." She says, "it was stopping to think about the school itself - the teachers, the students," along with the Board's willingness to allow flexibility for her to continue writing, that showed her that "the two (positions - principal and writing) would not be incompatible, but could enhance each other." With the support of her grown children and her husband, who is executive director of Mennowood Retirement Community, she rose to the challenge, citing "how much delight there will be in working with children."
With the new buildings, new property, higher enrollment and addition of grades, many opportunities are opening up, but she sees beyond the numbers and growth, to the underlying goal of maintaining the "quality educational experience for each child and family." Then she adds with a laugh, "I'm really looking forward to going out and playing at recess, (for playground supervision) like Glenda does."
Board Approves Addition of Sixth Grade at WRCS
By Jeanette Baer Showalter
Monday evening, March 20, WRCS Board approved plans to add sixth grade, increasing the number of teachers the school will need for expanding enrollment. Principal Glenda Mosemann states she "would love to see it be a stepping stone to middle school."
From 1986 through 1988, sixth grade was offered for two consecutive years, but the decline in enrollment made it infeasible to maintain. Mary Anne Leonard, as a teacher of fifth graders, hears many requests from parents that their children could remain at Warwick River. She recalls that having middle school grades was a part of the long-term vision for the school.
Board chairman, Lynn Showalter agrees, stating that in the early 1990s the Board and Administration laid out a written long-range vision "to provide quality preschool, elementary and middle school education." Balancing these goals is the challenge, Showalter says, "weighing this vision and the affirmation of parents desiring middle school against present financial constraints while still providing quality education is a difficult task to juggle."
Gordon Zook, who will assume the duties of administrator and development director this summer, admits that adding a sixth grade now pushes them ahead of schedule, but "with families of fifteen students requesting it, it would be wrong not to pursue." He, new principal, Susan Ackerman, and the Board are committed to teamwork, and seeking guidance from the Lord to lead the school spiritually and academically into the twenty-first century.
|
|
