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Thornhill welcomes new principal

THORNHILL Elementary will be getting a new principal this September, as teacher Deb Koehn joins the Coast Mountains School District from Prince George.

Thornhill Elementary will be getting a new principal this September, as teacher Deb Koehn joins the Coast Mountains School District from Prince George.

Calling it a golden opportunity, Koehn said she has had her eye on a position in the area for some time now. She explains the big draw for her was the chance to work with Coast Mountains superintendent Nancy Wells.

“I am really eager to participate in the kind of change that she is looking for in the school district,” Koehn said. “So that was a big attraction for me.”

Koehn said another part of that attraction is Wells’ membership in a provincial education ministry program emphasizing teamwork and self-accountability in developing new learning tools.

Koehn herself was a leader in the Network of Performance Based Schools program in Prince George.

In 2008, Koehn received the Premier’s Award for teaching excellence in recognition for her work in literacy, something she says is one of her strong points.

In 2007, the school Koehn was teaching at, Glenview Elementary school, was awarded the international reading association’s award for literacy instruction.

“So I am hoping to be able to facilitate some changes based on my experience there,” Koehn said. “I’m coming from a very strong literacy background and I am hoping to share some of that, and of course do lots and lots of learning from the staff.”

This will be the first time that Koehn has held a principal position, although she has informally filled the job in the past due to medical absences.

Koehn will be no stranger to the Terrace community – she started her career at Thornhill Primary school more than 30 years ago.

“It’s like a cycle” Koehn said, adding that both she and her husband loved their previous time in Terrace, and enjoyed the outdoor attractions the area has to offer.

“The environment there is very much so beautiful, it’s fresh and green, it is its own unique little spot. It’s a very exciting time for me,” she said.