Kristin Atwell has been named the next principal at Deer Park Elementary School. Daviess County made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, and she will begin her new role on July 1.
Atwell has been with Daviess County Public Schools since 2005. She started her educational career with Burns Middle School as an 8th-grade teacher. Over the next 5 years, she taught 8th-grade students, focusing on English Language Arts and Social Studies. While in the classroom, she was responsible for the academic, social, and emotional well-being of her students.
“Deer Park is a special place for students to learn and for staff to teach,” Atwell said. “Our school feels and operates much like a family and is a place where children and adults alike feel supported and inspired.”
As a teacher leader, she served as an 8th-grade team representative on the school leadership team. In 2010, Atwell took on a new role as the Staff Developer at Burns Middle. In this role, she created professional learning opportunities for her school and the district, completed extensive work with curriculums, and worked alongside teachers to promote successful instructional practices. While in this role, she initiated and implemented professional learning communities in schools. Atwell also developed the school-wide literacy curriculum and approach while contributing to the district literacy committee.
She said her priorities and background support strong leadership in areas of positive relationships, communication, and academic excellence.
“Our commitment to providing engaging learning opportunities will continue to grow as we provide a nurturing and comprehensive approach to educating each and every child.”
DCPS assistant superintendent for human services, Dr. Caleb York, expressed his confidence in Atwell.
“Through surveys, focus groups, and the Site-Based Decision Making Council, the Deer Park community shared the goal of finding a collaborative, instructional leader who has a background in working with a diverse population and will empower students and staff to become their best,” York said. “With the hiring of Mrs. Atwell, we have found a leader for Deer Park who meets all of those criteria. She is an outstanding leader who will lead the Deer Park community and continue their goals of high academic achievement and preparing students to succeed.”
Atwell is currently serving as assistant principal at Deer Park Elementary School, a position she has held for the last ten years. In this role, she has supervised the school’s teaching and learning. She worked to maintain an effective learning climate in the school, including evaluating and supervising the instructional processes, as well as overseeing the implementation of school-wide curriculums.
York added that DCPS developed a robust process for selecting the best candidate for open principal positions.
“We were fortunate to have a pool of strong applicants for Deer Park,” he said. “Mrs. Atwell is a fourth-generation educator who is student-focused, collaborative, and a visionary leader. Kristin leads with her heart and is dedicated to the Deer Park students, families, and staff. Her passion for students and families, along with her determination, will be an asset to DCPS.”
