Haas excited to join C-4; sad to leave Adams

March 3, 2003
By Kristen Martinez, director of Public Relations

Nancy Haas

C-4 Elementary School will be undergoing a change soon; a half-time principal has been assigned to the school. Nancy Haas, assistant principal at Adams Elementary School and part-time principal at Lincoln PALS, has been assigned as a half-time principal to C-4 effective July 2003. She will continue as half-time principal at PALS.

USD 470 Superintendent of Schools Perry L. Perkins said the decision to appoint a half-time principal at C-4 took a great deal of consideration.

"Although the C-4 staff has done an excellent job of serving in both the administrative and teaching functions, I believe the circumstances at C-4, in USD 470, and in Kansas education have changed significantly over the last several years resulting in many more demands on both teachers and administrators," Perkins said. "Therefore, I no longer believe it is in the best interest of students, teachers, and the district to continue the current administrative arrangement at C-4.

"We need teachers who are able to commit their full time and resources to the very difficult job of teaching, so that students learn to higher and higher standards. We need a principal who has the expertise to assist and support teachers with teaching and learning issues," he said. "We need a principal who fully understands the very complicated No Child Left Behind program and who can give the necessary time to its accountability and record keeping functions and requirements.

"I expect all schools in USD 470 to have an instructional leader (principal) who can and should be held accountable for the operations of the school, instructional materials and equipment, facilities, staff supervision, and other administrative duties. However, most importantly, every school should have a principal who is responsible for making sure the teaching and learning mission, especially student assessment results, is effective and receives the support it deserves and needs," Perkins said.

"I believe Nancy is an extraordinary administrator who completely shares the vision of the district. She meets all the requirements mentioned above," he said. "She is so much looking forward to serving the C-4 community, the teachers and staff members, and especially the students.

"I know that this is a major change for all C-4 staff members, parents, and students. However, I believe it is a necessary change in this time of increased expectations, higher standards, a high level of accountability, increased documentation and administrative paperwork, and No Child Left Behind," Perkins said.

Nancy and husband Rich have been married for almost 21 years and have two children, Jacqueline, an ACHS graduate now attending Hutchinson Community College on a track scholarship, and Kyle, a freshman at ACHS.

The Haases moved to Arkansas City from Missouri in 1993. Nancy and Rich both were employed by the Cowley County Special Services Cooperative as special education teachers. Rich still works for the Coop. Nancy is in her second year at Adams and Lincoln PALS.

She was a special education teacher for 25 years. She also taught at a vocational school in the Kansas City area for seven of those years. Nancy, who earned her master's in 1993, worked evenings and weekends while attending school and raising a family. She said it helps to have a supportive family, especially a husband who is so understanding of the long hours.

Nancy received her undergraduate degrees in psychology and special education from the University of Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo., and a master's in elementary administration from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo.

Nancy said she is excited about going to C-4. She's already met with the staff and toured the facilities. She said that living in Arkansas City has made it easy to get a "jump start" on getting to know the staff and environment at C-4.

"I'm looking forward to working with [the staff] on a more individual basis," she said. "I've seen the great things they're already doing."

Nancy said the bittersweet part of the transition is leaving Adams and Principal Rex Herndon.

"I've enjoyed working with the staff immensely. Working with Mr. Herndon has been fun and interesting," she said. "I've learned a lot from him. He serves a great sounding board and has helped me. I visit with him about administrative issues and for guidance. He has a wonderful work ethic. I don't think he knows when to go home. [Leaving Adams] is the sad part."

But Nancy said she's really looking forward to working at C-4.

"C-4 has a wonderful staff, a great education team already in existence," she said. "I'm looking forward to being a part of that."