By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
Abby Allen is in her second year as the Principal of Spring Valley Elementary School following the retirement of long-time Principal, Sierra Jackson. Abby is originally from Topeka and came to USD 475 in 2006 as a teacher at Custer Hill Elementary School, “which is where Mrs. Jackson was the Principal”, she said.
Mrs. Allen also taught at Lincoln Elementary and has been an Instruction Coach in the district. “I love technology” and what the district has done to provide students and staff with the equipment and training to use it in their learning journey.
“Safety is my number one priority. Students and staff need to feel safe when they come to school. “Teachers welcome students by name as they come through the door each morning. We have a High-Five Friday once a month when parents, district staff from the central office or organizations are welcome to greet our students when they arrive. It lets students know that people care about them being in school and encourages them.
Wildcat Way Expectations and rotations teach students about what appropriate behavior in the classroom, hallways, at the drinking fountain, and at assemblies looks like and is expected. We also prepare fifth graders for middle school by having their core subject rooms near each other for easy transition in passing from one class to another. In the spring the fifth graders visit the middle school on ‘Bridge Day’ to get a middle school student led tour of the building, meet the Principal and perhaps lower the anxiety of going to a larger building with sixth grade students from all elementary schools in USD 475.”
Abby also stated that “I collaborate with other Principals in the district to give and get new ideas on how to handle certain situations.” She also shared that “the collaboration with the staff at the Devin Center helps all Principals get a clearly picture about finance and other topics being dealt with on the building level.”