Powell named principal for JR/SR high

Current counselor Angela Powell has been named principal for Holyoke JR/SR High School for 2020-21. She replaces Shane Walkinshaw, who resigned the position in February, effective at the end of his current contract on June 30.

Powell’s contract was approved by the Board of Education at its April 21 meeting. The 12-month contract begins July 1, at a salary of $75,000.

A 2000 graduate of Holyoke High School, Powell has been a member of the school staff in Holyoke for 16 years. She started as an English teacher and then assumed the counselor position, serving as a leader on numerous district committees throughout that time.

Powell has a master’s degree in school counseling and is currently finishing her coursework to earn an endorsement certificate in administration from Lamar University.

Superintendent Kyle Stumpf said that Powell is on track to complete all coursework by December and her internship hours by March 1, 2021.

Stumpf said he is excited for Powell to join the administrative team, pointing out that she knows the local students, parents and community. “I look forward to what we can do as an administrative team moving forward,” he added.

Explaining the process that led to hiring Powell, Stumpf said that 10 candidates had completed online applications for the position by the April 6 deadline.

Screening those 10, Stumpf and Holyoke Elementary School Principal Andrea Kammer identified six that they wanted to interview. One had already accepted another position, but five candidates were interviewed via Zoom by Stumpf, Kammer and three JR/SR high teachers on April 16 and 17.

Monday, April 20, they narrowed the search to the top two, which then led to offering Powell the position that she accepted.

Stumpf said he was pleased with the top three candidates who all could have been great additions to the district staff. He said he feels Powell will be a great fit — a long-term fit for the principal position in the district.