Superintendent says turnover is no greater than usual
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
Winkler Elementary School Principal Jennifer Barnabee wants to make one thing abundantly clear.
She has loved the two years she spent in Burlington as principal at the school.
“I have been so happy here,” said Barnabee Tuesday. “My family will ask me how was my day, and it was great.
“I have the best job.”
But when Barnabee’s former school district – Barrington, Ill. – came calling, she didn’t have the heart to say no.
Barnabee has officially resigned as the school principal, with her last day officially being the end of the school year on June 30.
“They called me,” Barnabee said. “It was a shock to me.”
She will be the Director of Extended Services at the district, and will get a chance to work with several specialty programs as director, not as a principal.
But her time in Burlington has been tremendous, she said.
“The dedication of the staff, the commitment of the community, the hard-working students,” Barnabee said were the highlights at Winkler. “I could not have asked for a better principal job. It has been the best place and the best job.”
She sent out a letter to school students and families last week, calling them “amazing” and saying, “I have treasured and will always treasure our time together.”
But, said Barnabee, she’s never been one to walk away from a challenge.
“I have always been a risk-taker,” she said in the letter, “for better or worse, and when opportunities present themselves, I’ve never shied away from the chance to grow and learn new things.”
Burlington Area School District Superintendent Peter Smet said Tuesday that the job posting has already drawn 55 applicants, and will remain open through June 28.
He hopes to have a new principal hired by July.
“It’d be nice to have one to the July board meeting,” Smet said. “We’ll develop a process and go through that process.”
Other resignations
Barnabee’s resignation was one of several approved by the School Board Monday night. Among them was that of Jodi Rogahn, the Burlington High School argi-science teacher and FFA advisor.
Rogahn is taking a position in Cedarburg to be closer to her family.
She will stay on through the FFA summer school class and guide the new ag-science teacher in the position.
Smet said Tuesday that so far, six teachers have resigned, compared to 10 last year.
“It just so happens that it hit on the board agenda (late),” Smet said. “It seems to be they’re coming later. We’ve had several come later than usual. I don’t think the turnover’s any greater than usual.”
Other resignations approved at Monday night’s meeting:
• Ashlei Hansel, Karcher Middle School, effective the end of the school year.
• Adam Czajkowski, science teacher, Burlington High School, effective June 8.
• Meg McKinney, resignation of 30 percent of her current art teacher position at Waller/Lyons, pending a suitable replacement.
• Deb Hefty, library assistant, Dyer Intermediate, effective the end of the school year.
• Kathi Sawyer, special education aide, part-time, BHS, effective June 7.
• Erica Branson, special education teacher, Karcher Middle School, effective the end of the school year.
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