New principals on duty at two elementary schools

They may not remember all the names and faces, but Nancy DeGarmo and Angelique Kobler made some acquaintances last week during elementary school enrollment.

“It was a little hectic, but a lot of fun,” DeGarmo said.

DeGarmo and Kobler are the new principals at New York and Schwegler schools, respectively. They are two of three new principals to the district for the 2004-2005 school district. The third is Gary Lewis, administrator of the district’s new virtual school.

Lawrence Supt. Randy Weseman called the turnover average for the district.

“People retire or want to make changes,” he said. “I think over the next two or three years, we may see more new principals. We have people at retirement age and things happen.”

Weseman said the district made solid hires in replacing former Schwegler Principal David Theilen, who resigned after two years, and Sharen Steele, who retired after 15 years as principal at New York.

“I think both (DeGarmo and Kobler) are people-oriented and will be particularly adept to meeting the public and engaging parents,” said Weseman, who has the final say on the district’s hires. “They are both smart people and know what is best for the kids.”

DeGarmo and Kobler said they were looking forward to meeting students and parents, and getting acquainted with the community.

Coming from small school districts, both also said they were looking forward to collaborating with Lawrence’s other elementary principals.

New York School Principal Nancy DeGarmo, right, talks with Christine and Vance White about their daughter Caroline, 6, an incoming first-grader, during enrollment. Caroline enrolled on Wednesday. DeGarmo is one of three new principals this year in the Lawrence school district.

“I’ve been impressed with the level of support the district provides faculty and staff,” Kobler said.

Since 2002, Kobler had been elementary principal for the Solomon school, which houses kindergarten through 12th grade and the district office. Solomon is a town of about 1,100 people between Salina and Abilene.

DeGarmo was K-8 principal and transportation director for Lyndon public schools. Before working in Lyndon, she was an elementary principal in Herington for two years and has taught in Hastings and Lawrence, Neb.

After pulling double and triple duty in Lyndon, DeGarmo said she was looking forward to focusing on just being a principal.

She’s got plans for improvement at New York.

“I want this to be seen as a model school,” DeGarmo said. She said she thought grant funding and additional programs, such as the after-school program, would help improve the school.

Kobler said she was looking forward to seeing teachers at her school in action. Parents and teachers have a lot of pride in the school and a lot of collaboration occurs, she said.

“I just was to see that in action,” she said. “I also want to make sure I understand everyone’s needs and find out how I can help.”

Angelique Kobler — Schwegler School¢ Bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from Kansas State University, bachelor’s degree in art education and master’s in educational administration from Fort Hays State University.¢ Taught Spanish, art and physical education in Hill City.¢ Spanish instructor at Colby Community College and adjunct professor at FHSU.¢ Principal at Solomon school since 2002.Nancy DeGarmo — New York School¢ Bachelor’s degree from Hastings College in Nebraska, master’s in educational administration from University of Nebraska at Kearney.¢ Taught in Lawrence, Neb., and Hastings, Neb.¢ Elementary principal in Herington for two years.¢ Elementary principal and transportation director for Lyndon since 2001.