News
Thursday, June 19, 2008
New Principals for Franklin and McKinley Elementary Schools
Casie Killgore, educator and administrator in the Santa Barbara School Districts, has been chosen to serve as the principal of Franklin Elementary School. She replaces Carole Nevarez, who will begin the new school year as an assistant principal at La Colina Junior High School.
Ms. Killgore is recognized for her passion, creativity, innovative approach and desire to create positive experiences for all students, particularly English learners. She is a leader who has handled budgets, behavior management, special education, served as an assistant principal as well as an interim principal, established positive reinforcement programs, created reading intervention classes, and established an after school resource program for English learners.
Superintendent Brian Sarvis, “Casie is high energy, creative, and knows how to get things done. She is knowledgeable and has a lot of good ideas as well as a great sense of humor.” Added Assistant Superintendent Robin Sawaske, “Casie has the experience, knowledge, and training that will serve her well as a school administrator.”
A graduate of San Marcos High School, Ms. Killgore received a bachelor’s degree at the College of Notre Dame. She completed graduate work at California State University-Northridge and Azusa Pacific University, where she earned an M.A. in education administration. She started teaching at Cleveland in 2002. In 2007, she served as the interim principal at Adams Elementary School. That same year, she was the summer school principal at Adams Elementary School. In school year 2007-08, she served as the assistant principal at Peabody Charter School. She is fluent in Spanish, developed a youth mariachi group at Peabody Charter School, and is an advocate for parent involvement in their child’s education.
“I look forward to the opportunity to help students excel and be ready for the world. I am especially excited to expand the youth mariachi group to Franklin students,” Ms. Killgore said.
Franklin Elementary School, located at 1111 East Mason Street, Santa Barbara, serves approximately 527 students.
With the retirement of Dr. Juanita Carney, McKinley Elementary School principal, the Santa Barbara School Districts have been interviewing candidates for the position. The selection has been made and Emilio Handall, principal at Haydock Intermediate School in the Oxnard School District will lead the 456-student school, located across from Santa Barbara City College.
“Emilio Handall is an enthusiastic, articulate principal from the Oxnard School District. He has experience in working with a Program Improvement school and knows curriculum and learning. Emilio has strong interpersonal skills, a commitment to a ‘team’ culture, and is driven toward higher levels of achievement. He is recognized as an innovative, hard working, forthright, and upstanding educator and we are very pleased to have him to our elementary district,” stated Superintendent Brian Sarvis.
Nine years ago, Mr. Handall began his career as a sixth-grade teacher. He has also taught fourth-grade, with a focus on the needs of English learners. After four years in the classroom, he began an administrative career, first as an assistant principal at Blackstock Junior High in the Hueneme School District, then as a learning director at Haydock Intermediate in the Oxnard School District. During his time at Blackstock Junior High, he worked closely with staff to address student needs; that year the school met its Annual Yearly Progress goals and excited Program Improvement status. While in the Oxnard School District, he was responsible for student learning, instruction, curriculum, and assessment. During that time, California Standards Test math scores increased from 24.8 percent to 39.7 percent. Mr. Handall’s experience includes school budgets, staff development, instructional leadership, discipline, at-risk student tracking, teacher evaluations, and assessments.
A longtime resident of this community, and graduate of Carpinteria High School, Mr. Handall attended Santa Barbara City College. He has a B.A. degree from UCLA and a master’s degree in education from University of Laverne. He also has a master of arts degree in Educational Leadership and an educational administrative credential from Azusa Pacific University. He is a Spanish speaker.
Emilio Handall said, “I am looking forward to working with the staff, students, parents, and the community to help improve all the services we provide for McKinley’s students. I want to build on McKinley’s nurturing environment and work closely with parents and staff to enhance our students’ academic achievement and personal growth.”
McKinley Elementary School is located at 350 Loma Alta Drive, Santa Barbara.
The salary range for an elementary school principal is $98,428-$110,633.