Battle Ground Public Schools has announced changes to its leadership team for the 2021-22 school year, which include a new superintendent, principals and other administrative staff.
Deputy Superintendent Denny Waters will move into the superintendent position for Battle Ground Public Schools on July 1. Waters entered the district as an assistant principal in 2007 and has since won the 2020 Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Award in a large size school district from the Washington Association of School Administrators.
Shelly Whitten, a Battle Ground High School graduate, will step in as deputy superintendent to replace Waters. Whitten previously worked as the assistant superintendent for human resources and as an assistant principal for Glenwood Heights and La Center Elementary.
Michelle Reinhardt will step into Whitten’s former role, stated a news release. Reinhardt has worked as the director of human resources since 2019. She also has experience as a principal and fifth grade teacher.
With Meagan Hayden relocating outside of the area, Michelle Scott will take over as the district’s chief financial officer. At the Hockinson School District, Scott received a 2021 Circle of Excellence Award from the Washington Association of School Business Professionals for an effort to improve transparency for financial processes.
Stephanie Watts will leave her principal role at Prairie High School to take on the director of human resources position. Watts has two sons that will graduate from PHS in 2022 and 2026.
“I have been very fortunate to be the principal, as well as a parent of this outstanding school,” she said in the release. “The family and community atmosphere at Prairie is very special.”
Susannah Woehr, formerly the assistant principal at Renton High School, will serve as the new principal for Prairie High School.
“I am honored and thrilled to be joining the PHS family as your principal,” Woehr said in a news release. “It is my intent to serve the staff, students and families of Prairie so that everyone feels seen and heard, and knows they are a valued member of the community.”
Krishna Smith will replace Gerald Gabbard as Daybreak Primary School principal. Previously, Smith practiced landscape architecture before studying to be an eighth grade teacher and an assistant principal.
“Her desire to make a difference in the lives of our youth has drawn her in,” said Assistant Superintendent Shelly Whitten. “We are lucky to have her leading one of our buildings.”
