PORT ANGELES — Amity Butler, interim principal of Franklin Elementary School, has been selected to fill the position permanently.
Her appointment will begin July 1.
“We had four very qualified candidates interview, and the unanimous choice of both interviewing committees was Ms. Butler,” Port Angeles Superintendent Jane Pryne said in a prepared statement.
“Her 15 years of experience teaching at the elementary level, her administrative intern experience at Dry Creek Elementary, and the tremendous and conscientious work she’s accomplished at Franklin this year in an interim role makes her the best candidate to fill the permanent principal position there.”
Butler said she is ready for the opportunity to lead a school.
“It is an incredibly challenging job,” she said. “It is very exciting that I get to work with a wide variety of people and even more students than I did as a teacher.
Butler said she wanted to move into administration because of the opportunity to help other teachers.
“I enjoy not only supporting the teachers — because I respect teaching and teachers immensely — but also the staff and the families,” Butler said.
“That is one thing I have the opportunity to work with more teachers, staff and families than I did in the classroom.”
Butler taught kindergarten during the 2008-09 school year, and previously taught second and third grades, all at Dry Creek Elementary.
In addition, she taught sixth grade at the former Roosevelt Middle School from 1994 through 1996. Butler has served as the Port Angeles High School girls’ varsity swim coach since 1998.
Butler earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1993 and a master’s in teaching in 1994, both from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.
She received her principal’s certification from Seattle Pacific University in June 2008.
Butler’s appointment will be placed on the April 26 School Board meeting consent agenda for finalization.
The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Central Services Building, 216 E. Fourth St.
