While Theresa King is excited to embark on her first role as a high school principal at Galesburg-Augusta High School, she’s equally as happy she secured the position in the school district she has enjoyed working at the last three years.
King, the current K-12 curriculum and instructional specialist in the G-A District, was named the interim high school principal in July for the 2024-2025 school year. She is filling the role former high school principal Dr. Lindsey Newton held for two years after Newton was selected by the G-A Board of Education to be the district’s superintendent when Wendy Somers retired.
Considering the most recent budget information from the state, the district took a fiscally responsible approach and will keep King in the curriculum director role also.
The new interim high school principal said after working in the district the last three years as curriculum director she worked closely with the administrative team and staff to build systems and structures designed for positive outcomes in the classroom. Her trust in the administrative team made it easy to agree to take on both roles for the upcoming school year.
“I have a lot of trust in the wisdom of Lindsey. I think she’s very innovative and reflective. The administrative team is very connected and always looking and trying to improve things, and very supportive of teachers. It seemed like a good time to step into this role,” observed King.
“I think any opportunity to learn and grow is a good one. Galesburg-Augusta is a place that people have their eye on. Some great things are happening here. And just the way that kids are supported all the way around. Instructionally, emotionally, socially where I just think it’s a great team to be a part of. I think other districts could learn from some of the things we’re doing here.” continued the new interim high school principal.
Newton feels the new interim high school principal was ready to take on the position.
“Theresa King has been with our district for several years and has a deep understanding of our goals and growth. She knows the district and high school staff well, and her extensive instructional experience and familiarity will be invaluable during this transition,” said the G-A superintendent.
Although she has been certified to be a high school principal since 2007, King admits this is an exciting time in her career because she is starting her first role as a high school principal.
“I’ve just been waiting for the right time and this is the right place. I think having a supportive administrative team, the teachers are so encouraging and work so hard for kids. This community is what is best for kids, every single day. So it’s a great place to get my toe in and I feel like I’ve been very supported,” observed King.
She said she worked with Newton as a coach when Newton was working in Parchment and she has worked with Primary School Principal Shaun Sportel for seven years.
“I have a lot of faith and trust in my teammates, that this is a team approach and we’re going to do what’s best for the kids at Galesburg-Augusta,” said King.
She feels Newton did such a good job as high school principal building systems and support for students, sustaining those positives will be one of her objectives as the new high school principal. “I think any time you have a new leader, people wonder what’s going to change. But really, there’s not going to be a lot that changes. I think they have done a great job building those systems and structures. I’m here to sustain and support staff and students and continue helping us reflect and grow in our instruction. I think it will bring less change for teachers and they can continue to do the great work that they are doing taking care of our kids,” said King, who said her office team has been very supportive as she transitioned into her new role.
King grew up in Zeeland and graduated from Zeeland High School in 2000. She obtained her degree in Elementary Education and an RX Endorsement in Social Studies at Michigan State University.
She started her career as an intern in the East Kentwood School District and later got a job in the Battle Creek Lakeview School District where she taught for nine years.
It was during her time teaching in the Lakeview School District she obtained her masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching at Michigan State University.
After spending nine years in the Lakeview School District, she developed ambitions to be an instructional coach. She worked under Dr. Terance Lunger at the Calhoun County Intermediate School District for approximately three to four years where she was a literacy consultant and school improvement facilitator.
She learned about an opportunity at the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency where she worked as an educational improvement consultant for four years. During that time, G-A was one of the school districts she was servicing. She was connected with the school district for seven years, starting her work at the G-A Primary School where she worked to improve literacy and instruction for all students through the Hill Grant from Western Michigan University. She also did some coaching in the G-A School District and quickly embraced the environment at G-A.
“I really enjoyed so many of the things the district did. The teachers have always been so student focused. They’re not stagnant in their instruction, they’re always trying to learn and improve. I just really liked the culture here,” said King, who said she also serviced the Gull Lake School District, and Kalamazoo Public Schools.
She learned about a new opportunity in the G-A School District as a curriculum director and secured the position, which she has held for three years.
King and her husband Phil, who is a teacher in the Portage West Middle School in the Portage School District, have been married for 17 years. The couple have two children who attend school in the Portage School District.
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