Hanby takes on administrative role Durst describes new assistant principal as “hard working”
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BY AMELIA HAVILL ammy Hanby has been hired as the new assistant principal for both the middle and high schools, replacing Scott Carpenter, who is now principal at John Glenn High School. Hanby previously worked in the Westerville City School District as assistant principal for Westerville South High School. She has also worked as a middle school teacher and school counselor. Hanby, who lives in Granville, said she applied for the job of assistant principal as a way to give back to her community. Hanby describes one of the most exciting aspects of her job as “building rapport and interacting with the teachers, students and the community." Hanby works in the middle school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and in the high school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Her responsibilities include attendance, disciplining students, safety drills, lunch duty and teacher evaluations. She also handles parking passes at
the high school. “Entering the school year in the middle of a pandemic, I have had to adapt quickly, collaborate daily GHS/GMS, and be resilient,” Hanby said. In her free time, Hanby enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the great outdoors. While the high school has had an assistant principal in previous years, this is the Photo provided by first time there Hanby. has been an assistant principal at the middle school. According to Lisa Ormond, middle school principal, the district lost a total of $1 million dollars in funding from the end of last school year and the beginning of this one. The mid-
dle school has had a Dean of Students in previous years, but the major loss of funding caused a need to maximize teaching positions. “Administrative positions can perform responsibilities such as evaluations and student discipline that a teacher on special assignments or Dean cannot,” Ormond said. Human Resources and Operations Director Tonya Sherburne was present for each step of the process used to select Hanby as the best person for the job out of 52 applicants. The interview process began with a screening of the candidates based on credentials and application materials, and was followed by three interviews with different groups of people. "Her strong work ethic and attention to detail stood out during the interview process,” Sherburne said. High school principal Matthew Durst has described Hanby as being friendly and easy going. “She’s a smiling person,” Durst said.
District partners with OhioGuidestone Social worker will provide counseling services to students and teachers BY BELLA BLACK & KENNEDY OGDEN ocial worker Paul Willams will provide mental health support to district students and staff, through the district's partnership with OhioGuidestone. Over the past several years, the Board of Education has had many discussions and plans to address the health and well-being of our students and staff, according to Superintendent Jeff Brown. School counselors, staff and parents identified a specific need for bridge services from a licensed social worker to be a liaison between the schools and outside providers Williams will provide a variety of services for students. These include diagnostic evaluation, psychological testing, counseling/psychotherapy, psycho-education support services, psychopharmacologic management services, other mental health and substance use
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disorder services. His office will be located in middle school, but for now, he will provide online services. “A lot of what I’m going to be doing is tela-mental health,” Williams said. “I’m everywhere at all times.” The search for a social worker started last year before the COVID-19-19 breakout. The plan to hire a social worker happened when Governor DeWine “provided every district money to support the mental health and well-being of students through the Student Success and Well-being dollars,” Brown said. With the guidance counselors that are already staffed and the new services of Williams, students have many resources to seek help. “To help understand my role, it’s kind of understanding the difference between counseling and therapy,” said Williams. The difference, explained by Williams, is
that counseling is the practice of advising students about surface struggles but therapy is getting into deeper subjects like childhood trauma and self-harm. There has been widespread concern about the mental health of teens experiencing the effects of the pandemic. Aside from the struggles of high school teens are enduring changes in the whole dynamic of their lives. “I believe that everyone should go to therapy, and a social worker would make this easier for everyone,” senior Lulu Yearling. Williams’ plan while talking with students is straightforward and effective. He plans to work with the student individually in a specific amount of time, addressing their issues and concerns.
