photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

New York Elementary School Principal Sunny Halsted works with a student enrolled in the district's Montessori program.

The principal of New York Elementary will resign at the end of this school year, the Lawrence school district announced Thursday.

Sunny Halsted, effective June 30, will no longer be with the district. She has accepted a principal position in the Seaman school district in Topeka.

Lawrence Superintendent Anthony Lewis praised Halsted’s dedication during New York Elementary’s recent transition to a Montessori curriculum.

“I appreciate Sunny’s passion, her focus on data-driven student outcomes, and her courageous leadership, especially as we broke new ground by opening Kansas’ first public Montessori school,” Lewis said in a news release. “We all wish Sunny continued success.”

Halsted joined the Lawrence district in 2008 as a special education paraeducator at Sunset Hill. In 2011, she began teaching science and math at West Middle School, where she also coached track during her five-year tenure. She later served as the district’s science curriculum facilitator in 2016-2017 and as an instructional learning coach supporting Broken Arrow and Cordley elementary schools for the 2017-2018 school year.

Halsted previously taught and coached track in the Baldwin City schools for four years.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and a master’s at Baker University.

“I am thankful for my 16 years in Lawrence Public Schools and take with me many wonderful memories. Not only did I have the privilege of working with many talented educators and serving wonderful families, I also feel blessed to have raised my own children in this community,” Halsted said in the release. “Thank you for trusting me with your children. They all hold a special place in my heart.”

The district said it would immediately begin a search to fill the principal position at New York Elementary.