Petoskey Public Schools hires nine teachers, administrators ahead of new school year
PETOSKEY — At a July meeting, the Public Schools of Petoskey's Board of Education approved hiring nine people into new roles in the district.
The new hires include a new principal, assistant principal, and director of teaching and learning.
The new hires include:
Robert Harris as assistant principal at Petoskey High School
Taylor Huitema as a band teacher at Petoskey High School and Petoskey Middle School
Liz Racignol as art teacher at Petoskey Middle School
Kristina Ruckman as a special education teacher at Ottawa Elementary School
Matt Saunders as principal at Central Elementary School
Becky Smith as director of teaching and learning for the district
Andrew Stevens as a math teacher for Petoskey High School
Hillary Thorin as an elementary technology teacher for the district
Annamarie Walker as a science teacher at Petoskey High School
Prior to being assistant principal, Robert Harris taught at Petoskey High School.
“I love this community. I live here. I'm raising a family here,” he said. “I love this district, and I just want to see it be the best place it could be.”
More: Petoskey board of education approves superintendent contract, begins role Aug. 31
Harris has been working in the district for seven years, though his connection with Petoskey dates back to 2007, when he started coaching baseball at the school. In the following years, he student-taught at the high school and continued coaching baseball and football at the school — despite at the time being employed at different charter schools in the surrounding areas.
In his new role, Harris is hoping to bring community back to the Petoskey schools. He said he thinks the COVID-19 pandemic took away from the feeling of togetherness.
“The reality is, COVID was a big thing. Students were wearing masks, the teachers were wearing masks, and we were on computers,” Harris said. “We have such a strong sense of community, and I feel like some of that was eroded.”
By listening to students, teachers and parents' feedback, Harris said he thinks he can help build back that sense of community.
“It always starts with students — doing what’s best for kids, doing what’s best for community,” he said.
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Smith joins Harris as a teacher taking on a new role in the district. In her role as director of teaching and learning, Smith is responsible for coordinating and implementing curriculum for the district, from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Prior to taking on this role, she worked as a science teacher at Petoskey Middle School and as a STEAM coordinator for the district, bringing hands-on curriculum into classrooms.
In her new role, Smith hopes to offer support to the teachers and serve as a resource for them — whether that be in finding funding options or providing training opportunities for the teachers.
“Petoskey is an awesome, outstanding school district,” she said. “I'm just hoping to bring positivity and enthusiasm to really get us off to a great start this year, and to continue that all through the year.”
In his new role as principal, Saunders is returning to his roots. Born and raised in Petoskey, Saunders applied to be principal because he has a goal to help improve education.
Prior to serving as the elementary school principal, Saunders worked as the principal and part time superintendent at Vanderbilt Area School. He said he likes that this new role will be more focused.
When Saunders first got started as an educator, he did his student teaching at Central, he said. He and his children all attended the school when they were growing up as well.
Being in the same place he started is “almost like coming home,” he said.
“The staff at Central was wonderful, and I'm very excited to be working with them,” Saunders said.
The Public Schools of Petoskey’s academic year begins Sept. 6.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey schools hires new principals, teachers ahead of school year
