Submitted by Rochester School District
Grand Mound Elementary School (GMES) is welcoming a new principal, Kelley Bremgartner. Her contract begins July 1.
Bremgartner most recently led the special education program for the Chehalis School District and has more than 25 years teaching experience in special education, Title I and elementary grade classrooms. During the 2015-2016 school year, she served as the administrative intern under R.E. Bennett Elementary School principal, Trisha Smith, and completed her Residency Administrator Certification in April.
“I am most comfortable in a transformational leadership style where input from all stakeholders is valued and respected in promoting positive improvements to programs,” Bremgartner explained. “Grand Mound Elementary, without a doubt, feels like a perfect fit for me!”
Bremgartner says her primary goal in her first year as an administrator at GMES is to get to know the staff, students and community, in addition to the curriculum, assessments, and interventions that are in place.
“From there, she said, “I plan to work with the educational teams to determine the next step for GMES to continue to grow and improve programs for students and families.”
GMES serves approximately 500 students in grades 3-5 in Rochester. The students are served by 31 certificated employees and 18 classified staff, including a full-time counselor and a building TOSA, or teacher on special assignment. GMES students performed above the state average at all grade levels in all subjects tested on SBAC and MSP in 2016.
“I am excited to be joining such a strong team of educators with a clear passion for the work they do with students,” she said. “The administrative team is very friendly and shows a genuine desire to support the staff in their work with students in the Rochester School District. I feel very fortunate to be selected to be part of this team.
Grand Mound Elementary School’s outgoing principal, Casey Crawford, is moving to North Thurston Public Schools near his home.
Rochester School District provides rigorous academic programs to more than 2,200 students, preparing them for lifelong learning, rewarding careers and productive citizenship. The district’s students and staff have received numerous state awards, including being named a 2013 and 2014 Washington State “School of Distinction,” and recently the #1 school district for teacher support in all of Washington.
