photo by: Contributed photo

Tammy Becker

After nearly two decades in the position, the Hillcrest Elementary School principal plans to retire at the end of the school year.

The Lawrence school district recently announced in a new release that Tammy Becker, who has been principal for 19 years, will retire on June 30.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis said he knew Becker did not come to the decision easily, and he commended her for the success of the school during her tenure.

“We appreciate Tammy’s leadership, innovation, and her passion for meeting the individual needs of all students,” Lewis said in the news release.

Including her years at Hillcrest, Becker has worked as an education administrator for 31 years, previously serving in Lindsborg and Salina. She also taught for four years in western Kansas.

“I have had the opportunity to work with many talented educators and staff who care deeply for each other and every student who has walked through our doors,” Becker said. “I have been truly blessed to work with families and students from all over the world.”

Hillcrest is one of four schools in Lawrence currently participating in the state’s Kansans Can School Redesign Project, which aims to move schools away from an approach that relies exclusively on state assessments, and into a model driven by success skills, personalized learning, community partnerships and real-world applications.

The participating Lawrence schools are scheduled to launch their plans next school year. Becker said that because of the plan the school would be in good hands.

“One of the highlights of my career has been working in a school where staff and parents value innovation and forward thinking,” Becker said. “I have no doubt that through the building’s redesign plan, staff will continue to enhance student engagement while personalizing the learning for every scholar.”

The school district said it would immediately begin a search to fill the principal position at Hillcrest, which currently serves 344 students in grades K-5.