Parker will leave Enumclaw High after 14 years as principal
By Brenda Sexton
The Courier-Herald
The Enumclaw School District has hired Kathleen Lockyer as director of human resources and announced that current Enumclaw High School Principal Terry Parker will become director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The announcement was made through a press release issued by the district March 8.
Lockyer replaces LeaAnna Portmann, who is retiring. Parker takes over for Paul Iacobazzi, who, according to Superintendent Art Jarvis, was filling an interim position vacated when Chris Beals assumed principal duties at Sunrise Elementary School. Jarvis said at that time, the district did not have ample time to fill the position appropriately.
“These two are outstanding educators who bring an unusual wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to the Enumclaw School District,” Jarvis said. “Each stood out in a pool of applicants for the positions and I am thrilled that each was willing to take this career step to help us address the educational challenges facing us.”
Lockyer comes to the Enumclaw School District from Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Wash., where she has undertaken a variety of administrative tasks in surrounding school districts for the past three years. Her background includes prior school administrative experience in Montana as a high school vice principal, principal and superintendent of two small school districts. She has additional experience overseas in Department of Defense schools in Japan and Germany.
Her husband, Tom, is the first-year superintendent for the neighboring White River School District.
Parker, who has been principal at Enumclaw High School for 14 years, will finish the school year at EHS before moving to his new post.
Parker said his plans have always been to one day seek a curriculum leadership position, but he thought it would be two years down the road when his last child had graduated from Enumclaw High.
“Although the timing is unexpected it allows us to stay in the community,” Parker said. “I love this community and school district. It's an exciting position where I will be allowed to coordinate middle school and high school programs. The sadness is to leave Enumclaw High School.
“I love the work that I'm doing being involved with the students and staff at Enumclaw High School,” Parker said.
“It's an opportunity that was going to occur once if I was going to stay in this community. I wouldn't have made this decision to move if it wasn't in this community and even with that it's still difficult. I've been a high school guy all my life and I thoroughly enjoy the high school setting.”
During his time at EHS, Parker has been involved in district, regional and state activities for curriculum and instructional development. He is currently president of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and Universities. With the current focus on secondary education, 2008 state graduation challenges and the entire federal and national focus on challenges and reforms at the senior high school level, the press release stated, Parker is well-qualified to coordinate and supervise curriculum and assessment tasks facing the Enumclaw School District.
Jarvis said the district will begin the search for Parker's replacement at EHS immediately and hopes to interview his replacement by mid-April.
“We're going to move pretty quickly,” Jarvis said.
The district will also be looking to replace Enumclaw High assistant principal Joe Kristof who announced his retirement in February.
Parker and Lockyer will formally assume their duties on July 1.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.
