Lafayette Elementary’s new principal announced: Shauna Heath

Just in (thanks to those who forwarded it), a letter from Seattle Public Schools to families at Lafayette Elementary, whose first-year principal Jo Lute-Ervin announced three months ago (long before the investigation that has made news this week) she would not be returning for a second year:

Dear Lafayette Elementary community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Shauna Heath as your new principal, effective July 1.

Ms. Heath comes to Lafayette from the Kent School District, where she served as principal of Sunrise Elementary for the past two years. Ms. Heath is not only a great educator, but she lives in West Seattle and will be an excellent fit for the Lafayette community.

Ms. Heath started her career as a special education teacher in King Salmon, Alaska and then as a special education teacher for the Shelton School District in Washington. She was the assistant principal for Tillicum Middle School in Bellevue from 1998-2002, served as an elementary school principal in Clinton, Tennessee, and was a middle school principal in Riverdale, Georgia. Before moving back to Washington state, she was the pre-kindergarten through 5th Grade Instructional Services Director for City Schools of Decatur, Georgia.

Ms. Heath holds a Washington State Administrative Certification from the University of Puget Sound, and a Master of Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts from Evergreen State College. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in K-12 Leadership through Walden University.

Ms. Heath was selected following an interview process that included a school-based screening by members of the Lafayette Building Leadership Team and family community. She was interviewed by the school-based hiring team and also completed an instructional school walk through with Executive Director of Schools Aurora Lora. The selection team was particularly impressed with her knowledge of curriculum and instruction, her years of experience as a school and district administrator, and her dedication to the West Seattle community as a resident and parent.

I know you are all eager to get to know your new principal. She will be available to meet staff and families before the end of the school year. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Heath to the Lafayette community!

Sincerely,

Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

(The website to the new principal’s current school is here.)

20 Replies to "Lafayette Elementary's new principal announced: Shauna Heath"

  • kayo May 24, 2012 (2:01 pm)

    Glad to see some positive news from our school. Ms. Heath sounds great!

  • 35this35mph May 24, 2012 (2:42 pm)

    Yay! A Greener!

  • Westseattlemom May 24, 2012 (2:48 pm)

    Great News! How exciting a new principal & a West Seattle local too!

  • N.A. Neighbor May 24, 2012 (2:52 pm)

    This is great news for our school. Welcome, Ms. Heath!

  • Native WS May 24, 2012 (4:16 pm)

    This is fantastic news for the students and parents at Lafayette, as well as the community. Welcome Ms. Heath!!!!!!

  • Dee May 24, 2012 (4:48 pm)

    Sounds like a great pick for Lafayette! Lots of experience makes her very well qualified for the leadership role too!

  • g's mom May 24, 2012 (6:03 pm)

    Good luck to you Miss Heath…

  • Optimistic May 24, 2012 (6:45 pm)

    Welcome!!!

  • monroe1200 May 24, 2012 (6:49 pm)

    …You’ll need it!

  • GWParent May 24, 2012 (8:21 pm)

    Why the hell isn’t Gatewood getting a new principal? We need a new one!

  • Fred May 24, 2012 (8:37 pm)

    She sounds very good. I’m happy about that.

    • WSB May 24, 2012 (9:35 pm)

      I talked with her this evening and will be writing up the results of the conversation later tonight – ran out of time because our conversation ended just as I had to go to the Junction project meeting – TR

  • West Seattle Mom May 25, 2012 (6:48 am)

    I hope she knows what she is getting into!

  • MarcO May 25, 2012 (9:42 am)

    @west Seattle mom
    OK we get it, you don’t like Lafayette and you’re glad your kids don’t go there. you seem to be getting some level of enjoyment in all this… sad.

  • Ang May 25, 2012 (10:19 am)

    Excited for a dedicated principal to join the excellent teachers, caring parents and amazing kids at Lafayette! It has been a challenging couple of years but feeling very optimistic… Welcome Ms. Heath!

  • Oliver May 25, 2012 (12:15 pm)

    I second the Yay for a Greener, as a biased alum. Not to hijack the thread, but Gatewood’s principal is awesome.

  • GWParent May 26, 2012 (10:14 am)

    Oliver – you’re kidding me right? You obviously don’t have children there. Ask around. She’s been there too long. She’s unresponsive and complacent. The school needs someone new. NOW.

  • Dee May 26, 2012 (6:45 pm)

    GWParent – Parents do NOT run Seattle Public Schools! If they did they would be in way worse shape with all the personal bickering stuff. It’s way too hard to make everyone happy so if you are adamant about your complaints, go seek a private school and I am sure you will find faults there too.

  • scoop May 28, 2012 (1:37 pm)

    I’m sadly a parent and PTA member of the school Ms. Heath is leaving. I’ve worked closely with her over the last year and we will dearly miss her. I can tell you Lafayette is getting an awesome principal that can handle even WS parents. She is a great leader and even better person. I’m sure she’ll be able to unify the school and get EVERYONE moving in a positive direction. You have no idea how lucky you are!

  • LafayetteMom May 29, 2012 (3:03 pm)

    Coincidentally, I just met a parent of two students at Sunrise Elementary, a 4th grader and a 5th grader. He told me that the parents, teachers and students at Sunrise completely adore Ms. Heath! He said that both of his kids actually cried when they found out Ms. Heath was leaving their school. Right now, their biggest fear is who will replace her, because they don’t know who possibly could. I am so sorry for the families/teachers of Sunrise at the loss of this strong principal for their school, and I hope they get another good principal. At the same time, I’m incredibly optimistic about this new chapter for Lafayette, a great school in need of a great principal.

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