West Central Valley Elementary added a new Co-Principal for the district’s elementary buildings over the summer.

Principal Amanda Sickles says that she decided to work in education because she had great teachers that she looked up to as she was going to school. Once she acquired her teaching certificate, she spent time teaching general topics and intervention in grades three through six. She mentions she decided to become a principal because when she first started teaching, the principal she worked for was great to her, and really helped her whenever she needed.

Sickles tells Raccoon Valley Radio why she decided to apply for the elementary co-principal position at West Central Valley.

“I love the size of the district, and I love its location. I went to Adair – Casey when I was in school, and I’ve spent the bulk of my life in Adair County, so I know the area very well. And I know the priorities that these small schools are able to maintain. That’s very important to me. I love that students in districts the size of West Central Valley get to experience the things that they would like.”

Sickles expresses that she feels extremely welcome in the community and school buildings, as she has received help whenever she has needed it from teachers, staff, elementary co-principal Ethan Calvert and many others. She adds that she hopes that parents and community members reach out not only to herself, but other administrators, teachers and staff members whenever they have questions, as she wants to be able to help them, and show them how much the faculty and staff at the West Central Valley Elementary buildings care about the children they teach.