Clover Codd, Principal at Alki Elementary has been promoted to a new position, it was announced today by Interim SPS Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. Codd will become the Director of the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) for the district.

Filling in for Codd for the remainder of the school year will be Chanda Oatis, who has been the Assistant Principal at Denny International Middle School.

The change will take place Oct. 17.

The announcement was made today in a letter from Dr. Enfield

Dear Alki Elementary School families:

I am pleased to announce that Principal Clover Codd has been appointed Director of the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) for Seattle Public Schools.

I know it is always difficult to change leadership during the school year, but Alki Elementary will be in good hands. Today I am appointing Chanda Oatis, currently Assistant Principal at Denny International Middle School, to serve as Interim Principal for the 2011-12 school year. The official change of leadership takes place on Oct. 17 and Ms. Oatis will plan a meet-and-greet with families soon.

Earlier this month, Ms. Oatis was awarded the Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington Middle Level Principals. In February, the Principals Association of Seattle Schools named her Middle School/K-8 Assistant Principal of the Year. Ms. Oatis is a phenomenal leader, and I know that Alki Elementary School will continue to shine under her guidance. Her full biography is attached.
As TIF Director, Ms. Codd will oversee the TIF team that provides grant oversight and guidance. She will be responsible for the coordination of all elements of our federal grant, including the development and assessment of approaches to elevating teacher performance. In this role, she can make a huge difference for our teachers. I hope you will join me in wishing her well in this new opportunity.
If you have any questions, please let me know. We look forward to a smooth transition, and I know Ms. Oatis will be a great fit at Alki Elementary.

Best wishes,

Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

Denny International Middle School Jeff Clark said, "I am so glad that Chanda’s first principalship is in West Seattle.  I will continue to work closely with her as colleague.  She will do amazing things at Alki—I am extremely confident of that.  She is exceptionally talented, dedicated, and deserving of this new position!"

Clark sent the following letter in English and Spanish:

Dear Denny International Students and Families,
 
Ms. Oatis and I have some big news to share.  Ms. Oatis will be leaving Denny International in two weeks to become the Interim Principal of Alki Elementary School.  I would like to thank her for her amazing leadership and commitment to the success of our scholars over the last six years and one month.  She has been an outstanding leadership partner for me and I can't thank her enough.  Also, I am very proud of her.  Although we will really miss having her with us, she is ready to be a principal of her own school and many children will benefit as a result.
 
Her current position at Denny, the Assistant Principal for Literacy, is an instructional leadership position.  I am pleased to announce that Mr. Burton has been appointed Interim Assistant Principal for Literacy with us starting in two weeks. Prior to joining us as a Grade-level Administrator, Mr. Burton taught Language Arts at Mercer Middle School for five years.  During that time, Mercer began using the same approach to reading and writing that we now do, Readers/Writers Workshop.  For four years, Mr. Burton taught workshop and attended extensive training at Columbia Teachers College in New York.  I am confident that Mr. Burton will effectively use his experience and training and bring his same level of energy and excitement to his new position.
 
Thank you for your support during this time of transition.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jeff Clark, Principal
 
Queridos Estudiantes y Familias de Denny Internacional,
 
La Sra. Oatis y yo tenemos algunas grandes noticias para compartir.  La Sra. Oatis dejará Denny Internacional en dos semanas para ser la Directora Interina de la Escuela Primaria Alki.  Me gustaría darle las gracias por su increíble liderazgo y compromiso con el éxito de nuestros estudiantes durante los últimos seis años y un mes.  Ella ha sido una gran líder junto a mí lado y no puedo y estoy profundamente agradecido. Además, estoy muy orgulloso de ella.  Aunque realmente vamos a extrañar, ella está dispuesta a liderar su propia escuela como directora y muchos niños beneficiarán como resultado. 
 
Su posición actual en Denny, Director Asistente de Lectura, es una posición de liderazgo instruccional. Me complace anunciar que el Sr. Burton ha sido nombrado el Director Asistente de Lectura Interino con nosotros a partir de dos semanas. Antes de unirse con nosotros como un Director de Nivel de Grado Escolar, el Sr. Burton enseñó lenguaje y literatura en la Escuela Secundaria de Mercer por cinco años.  Durante ese tiempo, Mercer empezó enseñar lectura y escritura con el mismo currículo, Readers/Writers Workshop (Talleres Leedores/Escritores). Por cuatro anos, el Sr. Burton enseno talleres y asistió entrenamientos extensivos en el colegio, Columbia Teachers College en Nueva York. Tengo confianza en decir que el Sr. Burton va tener el mismo nivel de energía y entusiasmó a su nueva position.   
 
Gracias por su apoyo durante este tiempo de cambio.
 
Sinceramente,
 
Jeff Clark, Director