Battle Ground Public Schools

Top row, from left: April Vonderharr, Salina Machida, Lesli Collum and Angela Sauser

Second row: Austin Brothers, Justin Pierce, Kevin Palena and Matt Stanfill

Third row: Mike Maloney, Kirsten Talbott, Jamal McKenzie and Stephanie Watts

Bottom row: Luke LeCount, Jennifer Goodwin and Kellie Clay

Administrative changes for the 2023-24 school year

July 11, 2023

The following changes in administration took place in July for the 2023-24 school year. All personnel assignments were approved by the school board, except where noted.

Tukes Valley Primary
April Vonderharr, former interim principal at Tukes Valley Primary School,  permanently assumed the role of principal at TVP. Salina Machida, former interim assistant principal, permanently assumed the role of assistant principal.

Chief Umtuch Middle School
Former Daybreak Middle School Principal Justin Pierce is now the assistant principal at Chief Umtuch Middle School.

Daybreak Middle School
Former Assistant Principal Lesli Collum is now Daybreak’s principal. Angela Sauser, former interim principal at Pleasant Valley Middle School, is now the assistant principal at Daybreak Middle School.

Laurin Middle School
Former Battle Ground High School Assistant Principal Mike Maloney moved to Laurin Middle School to become the dean of students.

Pleasant Valley Middle School
Austin Brothers is now principal at Pleasant Valley Middle School. Brothers was the assistant principal at Chief Umtuch Middle School.

Battle Ground Virtual Academy
Matt Stanfill is serving as the school’s assistant principal. Previously Stanfill was an assistant principal and the athletic director at Battle Ground High School. Kevin Palena is serving as the school’s principal, in addition to continuing his current role as the principal at Summit View High School.

Battle Ground High School
Kirsten Talbott, former dean of students, now serves as the school’s assistant principal/athletic director. Jamal McKenzie is now the school’s dean of students. Previously McKenzie was the athletic director at Union High School in Evergreen Public Schools.

Prairie High School
Stephanie Watts replaced Manny Melo, who resigned, as the school’s assistant principal and athletic director. Watts was formerly the director of human resources.

More administrative changes
Luke LeCount will become the district’s new director of human resources, pending board approval. Previously, he was the director of instructional leadership for middle schools.

Travis Drake, current director of instructional leadership for high schools and alternative learning environments, also will provide middle school instructional leadership during the 2023-24 school year. The position of director of instructional leadership for middle schools will not be posted.

Executive Director of Special Services Ellen Wiessner resigned at the end of the school year. Former BGPS Director of Special Services Kellie Clay became the executive director. Jennifer Goodwin is now the director of special services. Previously Goodwin was an assistant principal in Evergreen Public Schools.