Every new school year brings change, from starting in a new grade or going to a new school.
That’s also true for a school’s administrative staff, including the person in charge, the school principal. Principals are the public face of each school and often the first person students meet when they alight from their buses on the first day of class.
This year, there are four new principals at local schools: Michael Kijowski at W.B. Simpson and Tara Faircloth at Allen Frear elementary schools in the Caesar Rodney School District; Pam Manlove at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in the Capital School District; and Susan M. Piavis at Lake Forest East Elementary School in the Lake Forest School District.
Each took a few minutes from their very busy schedules talk a little about themselves and their philosophy when it comes to educating children.
W.B. Simpson Elementary School
Name Michael Kijowski
Age 39
Hometown Pittsburgh, Pa.
Current residence Wyoming
Family Sherry Kijowski (wife) who is the principal of McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in the Caesar Rodney School District.
Teaching and administrative jobs held before becoming principal
I always wanted to work with kids. In college, I worked in a group home for mentally handicapped kids. I also worked in a children’s psychiatric hospital as a nursing assistant. In 1992, I moved to Delaware for my first teaching job, sixth grade at Star Hill Elementary School. Since then, I have taught fourth and fifth grades at Allen Frear Elementary School, and sixth grade mathematics at Fifer Middle School. During this time, I was honored to be named CR District Teacher of the Year in 2003. I was also the assistant principal at Allen Frear for four years. For the past two years, I was principal at Gallaher Elementary School in the Christina School District.
What is your philosophy on education today?
I believe that educating our children is one of the most important responsibilities of a democracy. Public education is the great equalizer in a society. Not only do we learn tolerance and critical thinking in school, we also begin to foster our dreams and hopes for the future. A good education is the doorway to opportunity and future success. However, it takes a team effort to accomplish this. Principals need to roll up their sleeves and work with the teachers to make sure that all students are learning. Principals need to be accessible to parents and provide them opportunities to help their children at home. Finally, principals need to be visible in the community and remember that they are the “face of the school.” During the course of my 18-year career as an educator, I have seen the awesome power of the “team approach” in helping students learn and achieve their goals. I hope to bring this sense of passion, dedication and teamwork to the principalship at W.B. Simpson Elementary School.
Hobbies and things you like to do in your down time
My mom taught me how to be a great cook. I like to travel to different places. For example, I went to Australia on my honeymoon. I enjoy spending time with my three nephews and one niece. I also enjoy being active in my church.
What is it about you that people might find unusual?
I love to talk on my cell phone. But I am old school about it — I would much rather talk to a person than text or email. Even though I am out of the classroom, I still collect children’s picture books. Between my wife and I, we have about 1,000 picture books in our house. I am still a teacher at heart.
Allen Frear Elementary School
Name Tara Faircloth
Age 32
Hometown Quakertown, Pa.
Current residence Magnolia
Family Husband and a 4-year-old daughter and 16-month-old son
Teaching and administrative jobs held before becoming principal
I’ve spent my whole career in the Caesar Rodney School District. My first teaching assignment was at W.B. Simpson where I taught fifth grade. Then I went to Star Hill for six years and taught fifth grade. For my last year in the classroom, I went back to Simpson and taught fourth grade. I also worked with special education and regular education students for summer school in addition to working with students first- through fifth-grades. I was an assistant principal for three years, the first at Stokes Elementary and my last two years were here at Allen Frear. I am now the principal of Allen Frear. I love what I do.
What is your philosophy on education today?
It takes a team to do what is best for children. Our school has a new motto, “One Team, One Goal, No Limits.” My philosophy is to instill the belief that as a community we make a bigger difference than as educators operating individually and alone. We believe in the value of relying on each other to make a difference for all our students. It is essential to hold high standards that support the development of both the social and academic characteristics of our students. We also acknowledge that children learn at different rates and in various ways. Our instruction needs to be tailored to each individual, his/her strengths and weaknesses, and their learning style. It is our job to reach out together to help each child succeed.
Hobbies and things you like to do in your down time
We love to spend time as a family. My husband coaches both football and lacrosse so we spend time at his games. We go to the beach and play outside as often as possible.
What is it about you that people might find unusual?
I truly love the beach. My office even is painted with a beach scene mural on the wall. (A parent of a student at Allen Frear painted it while I was on vacation.)
Booker T. Washington Elementary School
Name Pam Manlove
Age 41
Hometown Newark
Current residence Felton
Family Husband of 13 years; children, Jake, Beth and Brice
Teaching and administrative jobs held before becoming principal
I have been teaching for almost 18 years in public schools; mainly at the elementary level.
What is your philosophy on education today?
I strongly believe that every child has potential. My goal as an administrator is to help all children develop their potential through effective teaching from teachers and staff as well as instill a sense of accomplishment in them. By reflecting upon past experiences, studying current research, and seeking the assistance of my colleagues, I hope to provide a positive learning environment for all of our students. I want all of my students to receive instruction that supports all learning styles and broadens their knowledge base. Above all, I want to serve as a positive role model for my students. If my students leave my school confident in their abilities, and optimistic about their educational futures, my hard work and determination will be rewarded tenfold.
Hobbies and things you like to do in your down time
I enjoy traveling to South Carolina with my family; spending summers at the local beaches; and visiting with family and friends.
What is it about you that people might find unusual?
My family and I went fishing for catfish in South Carolina this past spring break and I loved it.
Lake Forest East Elementary School
Name Susan M. Piavis
Age 45
Hometown Swanton, Md.
Current residence Denton, Md.
Family Married for 21 years to Paul Piavis; three sons, McCabe, age 6; Henry, age 4; and Owen, age 3
Teaching and administrative jobs held before becoming principal
Taught seventh and eighth grade science before becoming assistant principal at Lockerman Middle School, in Denton, Md.; assistant principal at Greensboro Elementary, Greensboro, Md.; and principal at Ridgely Elementary for three years and Maple Elementary for seven years, both Maryland schools. In between, principalships, I also served under various titles at the Dorchester County Board of Education in supervisory roles.
What is your philosophy on education today?
We, as teachers, should provide opportunities, structure, and motivation for continuous learning and growth. Classrooms need to be led by compassionate, strong, and dedicated individuals who are excited about working with children and can share their own passion for learning. In order to make every child successful, we have to be ready to create individual learning paths and be flexible and creative enough to give specific guidance and help to each child. Teachers have to be continuous learners. We have to be reflective on our own practices and be open-minded and willing to change if necessary. Educators need to take their jobs seriously, but not necessarily themselves. Modeling and teaching tenacity, hard work, problem solving, and empathy for others are incredibly important, but we need to be able to laugh at ourselves and relish the joy that youngsters can bring to the classroom. Everyone should laugh and learn something new every day.
Hobbies and things you like to do in your down time
I love to spend time with my family doing anything outdoors and around the water. We’re big football fans (I won’t mention the team — remember I’m from Maryland) and I love to travel and read.
What is it about you that people might find unusual?
I’m a pretty chatty person. Folks would probably find it unusual that long ago, as a student in my first week of kindergarten, I fell off the monkey bars and ended up biting off my tongue. Though it was surgically reattached, I still have a hole in it that never healed. Though it didn’t really affect me over the long run, I don’t think my kindergarten teacher, who was a first year teacher, ever recovered from that experience.
Email Jeff Brown at jeff.brown@doverpost.com.
