Four new principals bring variety of experience to Newark City Schools

NEWARK ― Laura Sluss missed being in the classroom and around the students.

Now, she has the best of both worlds.

Sluss, the new principal at Legend Elementary School, is one of four first-time building leaders hired by Newark City Schools this fall. Three of them are women.

"We are excited about the new building leaders we have added to our team at NCS," superintendent David Lewis said. "They possess a variety of qualities and experiences that will make them successful. The one trait that stood out in all of them was their desire to help students reach their full potential. I look forward to working with them to fulfill our mission as a Community of Opportunity and Learning."

Sluss started at Newark City Schools in 2003, first as a long-term substitute teacher and then as a full-time sub. She then taught first grade at Cherry Valley Elementary, before becoming a district mentor teacher in the Administrative Service Center for elementary and middle school teachers.

"I have mentored 24 of the staff members here, so it's a great way to transition," Sluss said of Legend Elementary. "Amy (former Legend principal Anderson) and I worked together over the summer, so that was a big help as well."

She's quickly getting used to her new setting, as she gets to know everyone and they get to know her.

"I want to build those relationships and bring in positivity around the building," Sluss said. "The staff, parents and students have been amazing. I want the students to learn, but also have a good time."

Kyle Walters, new principal of Heritage Middle School, is certainly a familiar face around the district. Of his 18 years in education, 16 have been spent as freshman social studies teacher at Newark High School, his alma mater, and he was dean of students for six years at Wilson Middle School. For 10 years, he was head varsity baseball coach at Newark, leading the Wildcats to a district championship.

"It was time I considered doing something a little different," Walters said. "I took over here on an interim basis last October (at Heritage), so I was able to be here for six or seven months and get to know the staff and students. Heritage is a little bigger than Wilson, with 400 students while we have around 525 here."

He said a lot of the staff have been willing to make changes. "The people who work here, the teachers, the office, the custodians, they've all been great," Walters said.

His main focus is on being there for the students.

"Kids come here to be loved, and we need to be people that they trust, and know," Walters said. "We're here to love and treat everyone with respect. It's more than just a test score. Kids don't care how much you know. They care about how much you care."

Andrea McVay takes over as principal at John Clem Elementary after serving the last eight years as assistant principal for Pickerington's Toll Gate Elementary. Prior to that, she worked for nearly 10 years at Nashville, Tenn. Metro Public Schools, as a teacher, consulting teacher and ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) program specialist. "I was able to be with an incredible leader at Toll Gate," McVay said.

"We've started our year focusing our work on learning and training together, and we'll see where that takes us," she said. "We have wonderful students, teachers and parents here." Her older son went through fourth and fifth grade at John Clem and is now a sixth grader at Liberty Middle School, while her younger son is a third grader at John Clem.

"I have high expectations for myself, and the students," McVay said. "It's a students first approach. Whatever is best for the kids."

It was a natural progression for Angie Adkins to take over as principal for NCS Digital. In her 18th year with the district, she has served as a guest teacher, then as a kindergarten teacher for four years at Carson Elementary, and three years as a second grade teacher there. When COVID hit, she taught first through fifth grade social studies and first through third grade math at NCS Digital.

"I'm here to support the students who are not able to be in a brick and mortar building," Adkins said. "I want there to be more engagement with students and their families, and give them an opportunity to come in and work with teachers face-to-face."

The school will have "Game Time" this month, where students get to know each other. They are able to come in to "Mustang Lounge" to do work if they want, and Adkins has created "Mustang Moments" to honor students. "I want to see it (NCS Digital) grow, and flourish," she said.

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark City Schools hires four new principals