Hiring Announcement from the Pastors of Assumption Parish and St. Bridget Parish and the ASB Principal Search Committee

March 30, 2007

Hello Everyone,

The ASB Principal Search Committee has completed the search for a new principal to lead and guide our shared parish school. We are pleased and proud to announce that the Committee unanimously recommended to our pastors that Kathi Hand be offered the position. Father Marlin Connole and Father Oliver Duggan enthusiastically endorsed the Committee’s recommendation, and Kathi has accepted.

This was a significant decision for ASB School. The decision is deserving of more than a few words of explanation.

The ASB community charged the Committee to find a qualified candidate who would serve our school as a Catholic Faith Leader; an Educational Leader; a Community Leader; a Visionary Leader; and an Administrative Leader. It became clear during the search process that Kathi Hand not only possesses each of these leadership qualities, but that she defines them as well.

For twenty-five years, Kathi has provided distinguished service to ASB School, as a teacher and as an administrator. That service alone might have been viewed by some as reason enough to offer Kathi the principal position. The Committee learned, however, that she brings far more to our school community than any of us previously knew or appreciated. Kathi is highly regarded and very well respected throughout the Seattle Archdiocese as a leader in Catholic education. Based on what we learned outside of our school and our parish communities, Kathi’s application for the ASB Principal position turned out to be a true gift to all of us.

Kathi was described to the Committee as the consummate professional, having the intelligence, competence, dedication, and heart to which every educator should aspire. She maintains high standards and expectations for herself, her faculty and staff, and her students. The Committee learned that Kathi is held in high esteem within the general education community in the Puget Sound region, parochial and public alike. She is widely respected for her understanding of educational excellence, her broad content knowledge, her staff development skills, and her commitment to all learners. She has embraced the current work and research on how the human brain learns, and how to create an environment in the classroom where all students, regardless of their learning levels, can thrive. Kathi is a recognized expert in developing elementary and middle school curriculum, and implementing curriculum in the classroom.

The Committee learned that outside of ASB School, Kathi is respected as a person who is devoted to the professional development of teachers. Not only has she mentored the faculty at ASB, but she has also been a mentor and model to many, many Catholic school teachers outside of our school. Kathi has been frequently sought out by other schools to help train their teachers and to develop and improve their curriculum. We were informed that the principals in the Archdiocese’s North Deanery met last fall to discuss how to provide high quality professional development to all teachers in the Deanery. When the principals raised the question as to who could best lead and manage this project, the answer was obvious to all of them: Kathi Hand. In our North Deanery, Kathi is known as having the ability to lead a community of students, teachers, and families towards faith, service, and academic excellence. A principal in the North Deanery described Kathi in this way:

To be a successful, credible principal, the proven capacity to teach may be the most important quality. Not only is Ms. Hand a highly qualified and effective classroom teacher, she is also a highly qualified and successful teacher of other teachers.

During her interview, it was plain to the Committee that Kathi recognizes the quality of our children’s Catholic education is dependent upon two things: an excellent faculty and staff that are supported in their continuing professional development, and the partnering of parents in the education of their children. On this latter point made by Kathi, others made this point about Kathi: she makes and maintains a connection to all school families, and knows how to support and guide parents to enable them to work effectively in the formation of their children. Many described her by one word: “approachable.” Kathi listens to all sides of an issue, considers all available options, and responds thoughtfully with wisdom and compassion.

Being a Catholic Faith Leader was perhaps the most important quality our community sought in the new ASB Principal. Many of us, especially those who have had children taught by Kathi, have always known her to be committed to our Catholic faith. She has always assured that the principles and values of our faith are made an integral part of our children’s education. As to her capacity to be a Catholic Faith Leader, Kathi was succinctly described to the Committee in this way:

A good leader models her or his beliefs and values as she or he empowers others to do the same. Kathi Hand lives her beliefs. She has a strong sense of personal spirituality and justice. She is comfortable being a leader in a Catholic school.

We are confident that Kathi’s Catholic faith will continue to guide her decisions for ASB, and the priorities she sets for the school, its students, and its teachers and staff.

The Committee learned that, for a number of years, Kathi has been presented with other administrative opportunities, and has been strongly encouraged by others outside of ASB to pursue those opportunities. Time and again, Kathi chose to pass on these opportunities because of her commitment to and love for ASB, and what our school offers to its students. Kathi felt that ASB afforded her ample opportunity for her own professional growth, especially through the integration of her values and commitment to Catholic education.

Thankfully for us, Kathi stayed at ASB. Fortunately for us, Kathi is able to fill the important leadership role that our school now needs.

Kathi Hand has her own unique vision of how to move ASB School forward to the next level of excellence. She will carry out that vision, and as a result, our children will continue to be rewarded with an excellent Catholic education. In the role of principal, there is no other person better equipped to serve our school community. Please join us in welcoming and congratulating Kathi as our new ASB Principal!

Father Marlin Connole, ASB Principal Search Committee:

Pastor, St. Bridget’s Parish and

Canonical Director, ASB School Bryan Coluccio, Chair

Tracy Read

Susan Bennett

Father Oliver Duggan Dan Say

Pastor, Assumption Parish