Michelle Zundel: Making it Personal
Monday, June 07, 2010
Photo by Grace Riley-Adams
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Michelle Zundel is a busy woman. As the principal of Bellview Elementary, she’s the person everyone seeks out when they need a question answered or conflict resolved. And now, with the 2010-11 school year looming on the horizon, that role is only being elevated to new heights as she prepares to take on the role of principal at Ashland High.
According to Zundel, her first task is to get to know the student body and staff at AHS. As she says, “My first order of business is to listen and learn.” For months now, she has been doing just that. She has met with every one of the 89 AHS administration members for 15 minutes each to clarify their goals for the future, and also with the staff as a whole to discuss initiatives for next year. What’s more, Zundel has also been in contact with our ASB co-presidents for next year, Kathryn Reynolds and Coco Amarotico. She declares with a laugh, “I love Kathryn and Coco’s idea to teach students how to dance!”
As for improvements for next year, the most prominent plans currently lined up for the school all involve technological improvements. For example, during the in-service week, a technology institute is set to amp up our classrooms’ technology fittings. Additionally, Zundel would like to start Google Apps running at the high school, and expand upon its use of GrizzNet.
While most of the coming school year holds positive prospects, there are also certain things Zundel places on her list of concerns. For one thing, she points out that “high school doesn’t have recess!” Furthermore, she adds that “the discipline at the elementary-school level is obviously different than it is at the high-school level. And, most importantly, Zundel recognizes the need for helping students make healthy choices and be “capable human beings.”
However, in the end, Michelle Zundel asserts that she is “very excited and interested in getting to know the students and what they need to be successful in high school and college.” We can all look forward to a highly personal atmosphere and a principal who intends to ready AHS for the 21st century. “I believe high-school students are capable of great things. I want to be in a place where I can help them reach their goals and potential.” The current work Zundel is doing to transition to the high school serves as an indicator that we cab rest assured our school will be in great hands this coming year.
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