Middle school principal and assistant principal are named

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District is wasting no time in replacing administrators who recently left their positions in the district.

Rosemont Ridge Middle School Assistant Principal Kurt Schultz and Athey Creek Middle School Principal Carol Egan both resigned at the end of June and to begin new jobs.

Schultz accepted a position as principal of Lakeridge Junior High School (formerly Waluga) in Lake Oswego. Schultz was at Rosemont Ridge for two years.

Egan, principal at Athey Creek Middle School left to accept a position as director of the Center for Advanced Learning, a charter high school that partners with Centennial, Gresham-Barlow and Reynolds School Districts, community industry leaders and Mt. Hood Community College. She was at Athey Creek for four years.

According to Rosemont Ridge Principal Debi Briggs-Crispin, once Schultz’ resignation was announced they began the search for a new assistant principal.

“There were many, many candidates who applied and we read through a great number of applications. We then held informal interviews to narrow our candidate pool to finalists,” Briggs-Crispin said in a letter to parents.

Then a committee was assembled that consisted of a parent, support staff, a teacher representing sixth grade, seventh grade and eighth grade, a principal representative from the primary schools and a principal from the middle schools.

“Final interviews were held and this committee, along with our central office administrative staff, worked together to select just the right choice for our amazing community,” Briggs-Crispin said.

Jim Severson was named the new assistant principal for Rosemont Ridge.

Severson has 11 years experience as an administrator, the last five as principal of Neah-Kah-Nie Middle School in Rockaway Beach.

“I know that Jim is very excited and anxious to become a Coyote and join the Rosemont Ridge community of learners,” Briggs-Crispin said. “And I am thrilled to welcome him into our outstanding school community and to partner with him on behalf of our students and families.”

Next month Rosemont Ridge will have one or two meet and greet opportunities with Severson for parents and students to meet him.

At Athey Creek Middle School, Joel Sebastian was also recently hired at the new principal.

Sebastian has more than 10 years of administrative experience including six years as a principal for two middle schools in Canby.

According to Superintendent Bill Rhoades,” Joel is excited to continue his passion to contribute to the success of middle school students by enabling them to enter high school and beyond with a wide vision of the world and well prepared for their future endeavors.”

Sebastian lives in Canby with his wife and two sons.

In addition to the openings at the middle level, the district also recently filled an assistant principal position at West Linn High School. Outgoing assistant principal Derek Jaques finished his last week at the end of June.

Jaques accepted a position in Camas, where his family lives. His replacement will be Annikke Olson, who earned her Master of Arts in teaching at the University of Oregon and was the assistant principal at Clatskanie High School.