Lonsdale principal leaves for Jordan Schools

If the TCU Board of Education approves it, the Lonsdale Elementary School will have a new principal this fall.

 

Lonsdale Principal Melissa Barnett formally submitted her resignation to the district and her staff on Thursday, July 11. Her last day with the district was Saturday, July 13. She leaves for the Jordan School District.

 

At a special meeting with a single agenda item, the Jordan School Board approved Barnett as its elementary principal on Thursday, July 11. A total of 41 candidates applied for the position. She will start that position Monday, July 22.

 

Barnett began her job as the Lonsdale principal on July 1, 2012. Her one-year contract split her time between that position and also as a “Teacher on Special Assignment” as the K-12 Curriculum Director and the District Assessment and ELL Coordinator.

 

The TCU board is expected to approve Barnett’s resignation at its meeting on Monday, July 22.

According to Jordan Superintendent Matt Helgerson, Barnett will lead the Pre K to Grade 4 elementary school of 650 students with a base salary of $110,000. When she begins, she will start in the second year of a two-year contract there.

 

At TCU, Barnett led the Lonsdale Elementary school of 250 students for a base salary of $76,000.

Over the past 15 years, Barnett taught in the Prior Lake-Savage and Montgomery-Lonsdale School Districts. Prior to accepting her position in Lonsdale, she taught sixth grade and assisted the previous superintendent, Matt Helgerson, who also began his job in Jordan on July 1.

 

She lives in Montgomery with husband Dave and elementary-age children Jack and Ben.

 

TCU Superintendent Teri Preisler said the district is very fortunate to have the high quality staff, administrators and teachers, and will only look for the best to replace Barnett.

 

Preisler added that the district has benefited from Barnett’s contributions and said the district will post for the position with the intent of, “getting the highest quality candidate for the TCU District and the Lonsdale Elementary School”.