Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Schools

2 principals, different challenges

The veteran elementary principals named to head two new schools have contrasting tasks ahead.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published January 23, 2005

WESTCHASE - Joyce Wieland had no doubt about what to do first upon her arrival as Westchase Elementary School's new principal.

Before meeting with the staff, before acquainting herself with the campus, before anything else, the school's second-ever leader set out to greet each of the 1,057 students. After introducing herself on the morning televised announcements, Wieland visited classrooms and the cafeteria, and scoured the walkways, to make sure she didn't miss anyone.

"I just want to learn all my kids," said Wieland, who left the principal post at smaller Mabry Elementary in South Tampa to take over Westchase. "That's my top priority."

Donna Ares' first day after being tapped to run Hilda Turner Elementary in New Tampa was decidedly less active. Her new school is under construction, and has no staff, students or parents to get to know.

"What I'm doing today is what I normally do," said Ares, who will continue to lead Hunter's Green Elementary through March 11. "It's business as usual."

Superintendent Earl Lennard chose the veteran educators from large applicant pools, and the School Board approved them Jan. 18. Each of the principals said she had mixed feelings about leaving a school where she had worked the better part of the past decade.

They talked about their sadness at leaving children they had come to know and staffs they had enjoyed. But they also looked forward to the professional challenges that lay ahead.

"I saw in my community an opportunity to re-create the successes that I've had here, and to expand my professional growth," said Ares, 52. "Never, at any level of my career, have I opened a new school."

Getting a standing ovation at a Mabry school staff meeting also helped ease the transition for Wieland, 47.

"That made it extremely easy," she said. "They truly showed their support in my departure."

Wieland got a similarly kind welcome upon her arrival at Westchase. Children approached her with huge smiles, and a couple of hugs, even though they barely knew her. All they needed to know was that she was the principal.

Many asked her questions, such as which school she came from and how old she was. Fourth-graders briefed her on their school work and quizzed her on their Battle of the Books titles. Luckily for Wieland, she had read seven of the 20, and she fared well.

A few gave her cards.

"I hope you like the school," one student wrote. "I will be really glad to see you. Love, Fields."

Former PTA president Sue Vidmar, on campus to volunteer, told Wieland how excited she and the community are to have the new principal on the job. Teachers also were pleased with the choice to replace Roseanne Miller, who retired in December.

"We want a good leader and good mentor for the teachers, and someone who encourages the children to learn," resource teacher Bruce Buckler said.

Wieland said she was overwhelmed by the warmth. She planned to make student achievement her primary objective. Teachers will play a key role in getting there, she said.

"At Mabry, one of the things that made me most successful was, I was recognized as a hands-on, open-door kind of principal, available to the staff and the community," Wieland said.

She expected to keep operating that way, to maintain a top-notch dedicated staff and involved parents for Westchase.

"I'm so happy to be here," Wieland said.

Wieland, a Tampa native, has an education leadership degree from Nova University. She has worked for Hillsborough schools since 1980.

Ares, also a Tampa native, had an agenda different from Wieland's. She faces creating a school from scratch. She couldn't be more excited.

"I feel very fortunate that I have an opportunity to direct my career. I look forward to this as a forward progression," said Ares, a 30-year veteran of the Hillsborough district. "You're not growing if you're sitting still."

She'll begin work in March in a trailer on the school construction site, involving herself in daily building decisions such as equipment placement. She'll have to order curriculum materials and spend a great deal of time hiring.

"I'll spend some time at Clark Elementary getting to know the students there and the parents there," Ares said.

Turner will draw its student body from the Clark and Hunter's Green attendance zones.

Also on the to-do list: organizing a PTA, establishing business partners, and bringing students together to select a mascot, school colors and a slogan.

"I understand I am going to be really busy," Ares said. "It's what I like to do. It's with people."

Until she begins, Ares said she plans to get Hunter's Green in tip-top shape, so her still-unnamed successor will have an easy transition into the school.

Looking back, Ares remembered fondly her efforts to bring the national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award to Hunter's Green. That successful drive ensured that she knew the faculty, parents and community inside and out.

She intended to use the lessons from that "awesome experience" in leading Turner.

"This is an opportunity to take what we're doing here (at Hunter's Green) and expand it and share it," Ares said.

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 813 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:14:21]