Superintendent’ s Report April 2016 Litchfield Public Schools
Personnel New Principal( 4-5) We are pleased to announce that Wade Finley has been hired as the new K-12 principal for our District for the 2016- 17 school year. He comes to our district after serving the past six years as counselor in the Wilber-Clatonia school district. Our district had 14 applicants for the principal’ s position, and an interview committee narrowed the field to three who were interviewed on April 6. Wade was rated the top candidate was offered a contract. He accepted the position and signing the contract yesterday.
Wade will finish his Education Specialist degree in K-12 administration at Wayne State College this spring. He has a master’ s degree in secondary school counseling from Chadron State College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education from Kearney State College. Wade has been a business teacher, counselor and a boys and girls coach during his 27 years in education. Besides being a school counselor, he has held several leadership positions in the school districts for which he served as crisis team leader, building supervisor in the absence of an administrator, school visitation team leader, and school improvement team leader.
Some comments that were made by Wade’ s administrators include:
“ You can be sure that Wade Finley will work hard and dedicate himself to be the best administrator he can be. The students have enjoyed being in Mr. Finley’ s classes and he has been an outstanding guidance counselor. He is good for kids and a great member of the community. He works well will his peers, parents, and students and has a wonderful ability to think and adjust to critical situations. Wade is flexible and wouldn’ t ask anyone to do something he wouldn’ t do himself.”
“ Wade is a valuable member of Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools. It is my opinion that Mr. Finley’ s greatest strength is his leadership during a crisis involving school. He is compassionate, considerate, and thoughtful. His composure during these times helps everyone through the process. Wade has the ability and experience to be a successful administrator in any school district.”
Wade is married and has three children. His two oldest children have graduated from high school, and his youngest daughter will graduate this spring from Wilber-Clatonia. She will be attending UNK in the fall. Wade and his wife also have a sixth grade boy who will be entering Jr. Hi. next year.
Motion: I recommend that Wade Finley’ s contract be formally approved as presented by the board of education as our new K-12 principal for the 2016-17 school year.
New Math instructor We are pleased to announce that Michelle Buchanan has been hired to be our new Jr. Hi. math and reading teacher. Michelle comes to us from Perkins County where she taught for three years prior to moving with her family to the Kearney Area. Please see the resume below:
We are pleased and excited to announce that Michelle Buchanan has been offered and she has accepted the 7 th and 8 th grade Math and Reading position for the 2016-17 school year. Michelle has a double major with a degree in elementary and middle level education and received her Bachelor’ s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1991. In 1999, she received her Master’ s degree in instructional technology and has a 4-9 mathematics endorsement. She has experience teaching Math in Ralston, Anderson Middle School in Millard, and Perkins County Schools in Grant, Nebraska. Last year she moved with her husband and family to Kearney when he was transferred in a career relocation.
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