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Valley is like home to new principal
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: February 14, 2019

The Valley Center school board named the next middle school principal this week.

Chad Cramer, assistant principal at Maize Middle School, will take over at Valley Center Middle School on July 29. He will replace Pete Bastian, who announced his resignation in January.

"I'm glad to be here," Cramer said. "I'm excited to get started and I'm ready to go."

The Valley Center school board approved Cramer's hiring during a meeting Feb. 11.

"It reminds me a lot of the school district I grew up in — kind of a small town with a lot of school spirit," Cramer said.

Cramer, who grew up in Scott City, has been assistant principal and activities director at Maize Middle School for nine years.

Before becoming an administrator, Cramer taught middle school science, technology and English in Maize and Lindsborg.

Cramer holds a bachelor's degree in education from Kansas State University (2002), a master's degree in sports administration from Wichita State University (2007) and a master's degree in school leadership from Baker University (2011).

Cramer and his wife, Danea, have two daughters, Ainsley, 12, and Elly, 9.

Valley Center's assistant superintendent, Mike Bonner, a former principal at Maize High School, said 21 people applied for the job. Cramer was one of four finalists recommended for interviews by a screening committee that included licensed and classified staff at VCMS. The finalists were interviewed by a separate committee that also included middle school licensed and classified staff, building leaders and district leaders.

"We are pleased and excited to welcome Mr. Cramer to the administrative team," Bonner said.

The district began collecting resumes for assistant principal at the middle school, a position left open by the recent resignation of Abby Thompson, who was with the district for two years.

In other personnel action Feb. 11, the board:

•Met in executive session for 10 minutes to discuss an individual employee's performance.

•Met in executive session for 10 minutes to discuss contract negotiations.

•Approved the hiring of Abel Medina (Spanish teacher at the middle school, $42,381, Aug. 8), Stephanie Wilmott (physical education teacher at the high school, $48,632, Aug. 8), Sharon Matz (elementary art teacher at Abilene, West and Wheatland, $45,056, Aug. 8) and Chad Cramer (principal at the middle school, $97,000, July 29).

•Accepted resignations from Maryellen Roat (custodian at Wheatland, Jan. 29), Jackie Wilcox (fifth-grade math and science teacher at the intermediate school, retirement, May 24), Lindsey Koehn (fifth-grade English and social studies teacher at the intermediate school, May 24), Stephanie Martin (science teacher at the middle school, May 24) and Whitney McGee (second-grade teacher at Wheatland, May 24).

•Approved transfers for Clint Smith (from bus driver to substitute bus driver, $11.35 per hour, Jan. 21), Kiley Jackson (from fifth-grade English and social studies to fifth-grade math and science, Aug. 12), Adelyn Soellner (from Wheatland principal to executive director of academic affairs, $104,500, July 1) and Tessa Aldag (from sixth-grade science to seventh-grade science, Aug. 12).

•Approved contract (work agreement) extensions through 2019-20 for Susan Harris (director of finance), Josh Huffman (director of technology), Dan Gentry (director of maintenance and grounds), Molly Rainey (director of food service and wellness), Mark Marshall (director of transportation), Cody Lee (post-secondary programs coordinator), Amy Zwetow (ESOL coordinator) and Lauri Fitch (Parents as Teachers coordinator).





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