AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
WWW.AHWATUKEE.COM
JULY 21, 2021
3 new leaders starting posts in Ahwatukee AFN NEWS STAFF
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ew leaders are taking the helm at three Ahwatukee schools this school year. Akimel A-al Middle School is welcoming new principal Shalini McCarthy to campus while St. John Bosco Catholic School students and staff will be led by new principal Jamie Bescak. At the same time, Tom Kandler begins his new job as Horizon Honors Secondary School assistant principal. Kyrene continues to grow its own, promoting current staff to open administrative positions. McCarthy’s educational career spans 12 years across a number of Valley school districts. Most recently, she served as an assistant principal of a PreK-8 school in
JAMIE BESCAK
SHALINI McCARTHY
TOM KANDLER
another Phoenix district. “It was during my time as an assistant principal that I found my passion for working with middle school students,”
McCarthy said. “I look forward to working alongside our dedicated staff and community to provide the best possible learning environ-
ment for our Akimel A-al students.” Prior to entering school leadership, Mc-
see LEADERS page 28
New Kyrene teachers hold in-person orientation AFN NEWS STAFF
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yrene School District hosted its annual Orientation for New Educators, or ONE, event in person this year at Aprende Middle School with limited attendance and plenty of space for social distancing. Events like ONE are key to Kyrene’s culture of support and mentorship for teachers, which has helped the district to remain fully staffed on teachers despite a statewide shortage. It was the first time since March 2020 that Kyrene hosted one of its premiere annual events in person instead of online. Each year new Kyrene teachers begin the year ahead of the veteran teachers so they can spend a week getting acclimated
to the district and their individual schools. The kickoff event was the first time that many Kyrene teachers had been under one roof, in one room, for more than 18 months. The more than 50 educators included those new to teaching, those with years of experience and a few, like new Kyrene Middle School science teacher Dan Schack, who are embarking on a second career. “I was formally an environmental scientist,” said Schack, who previously consult-
see TEACHERS page 29
New Kyrene teachers met in person this month for orientation. (Special to AFN)