The Hermiston High School library was filled with school and district staff Tuesday as the two finalists for the principal job made their cases why they should be selected to take over for the retiring Jocelyn Jones.
First up was Beth VanderVeen from Everett, Wash. VanderVeen has served as high school principal for 16 years and most recently as a district director of student services and athletics in the Mukilteo School District in Everett.
“I really miss being in a building with students,” she said, when asked why she was interested in becoming HHS’ next principal. “It’s where I’m most effective. My love and passion is working with kids where I can make a difference every day.”
VanderVeen said she is a competitive person and that extends to working to make her school the best it can be. She described her leadership style as showing both a light and heavy touch when the situation calls for it.
“I like to have fun, but I can be serious when I have to,” she said. “It’s like being a mom. You have to wear so many hats.”
She said one of her focuses throughout her career has been to get students involved in activities outside of classroom.
“Kids that are involved in school activities do better in academics,” she said. “I’m a great recruiter. I’ve had football coaches tell me to stop sending him kids! And it’s important to promote the arts because they demand critical thinking.”
When asked how long she expected to stay in Hermiston if selected, VanderVeen said she would like to stay at least long enough for her seventh-grade son to graduate from high school – or longer.
“I was 18 years in Burlington,” she said. “I don’t know if I have another 18 years in me, but I’m kind of a ‘stayer,’” she said.
When asked by staff what he thought “good instruction” looked like in the classroom, Harris said it involves “seeing if the students are engaged and if the right questions being asked. Are they getting away being let off the hook with yes-no answers or are they being challenged?”
Like VanderVeen, Harris, too, is a supporter of the arts.
“A lot of kids find their niche there,” he said. “They may not be strong in math, but they can sit down in front of piano and blow your mind. I support whatever programs are working and have kids engaged.”
Harris was asked about his philosophy on standardized testing and said it can be overdone, but they provide a good snapshot of a student’s academic process.
“I look at a lot of data and look at the predictions,” he said. “I see where the kids are performing and the data we use is pretty accurate. It’s a tool we can use to measure students in the classroom.”
Harris said his style of leadership is to seek input from his staff.
“I am very collaborative when it comes to making decisions,” he said. “And I like to make sure expectations are understood right from the beginning. I’m not somebody who stands up there and cracks the whip all day.”
