8/4/2010 12:14:00 PM
Cordes takes reins at Lake Valley
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Tusanne Cordes has worked her way to the top at Lake Valley Elementary – she began her career there prior to 1995.
TribPhoto/Sue Tone |
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Tusanne Cordes said the transition from teacher to reading coach to principal at Lake Valley Elementary School has gone smoothly - after all, she has worked at the school since 1995 and is familiar with the staff, students, parents and programs.
Actually, Cordes worked at Lake Valley prior to 1995, but took several years off to be home with her daughters.
When she first came to Arizona from Ohio, Cordes said she wasn't able to find full time work as a physical education teacher, so she substituted for a while.
"I realized during that time that with my physical education degree it was harder to find a teaching job, so I took classes to get my elementary certificate," she said.
During the next 30 years Cordes taught kindergarten, third grade, and P.E. She worked as a Title 1 reading aide and teacher, reading coach, and now as an elementary school principal.
It was five years ago that she first started thinking about moving into administration.
“We were interviewing for a new principal and I was on the committee. It was apparent that many of the candidates didn't have elementary experience,” she said. “It was then that I decided to go for my administrative certificate.”
The Humboldt Unified School District Governing Board hired Danny Brown for the principal position during that process five years ago, and Cordes said Brown has been a "great mentor" for her. In fact, he encouraged her to apply for the principal's position this summer.
Cordes said she felt qualified because the reading coach position provided her with experience in classroom observation, directing professional development, and conducting meetings.
One of the challenges Cordes faces at Lake Valley is the same in every Arizona school district: "dealing with budget cuts and finding new sources of money to help with those cuts," she said.
One of her goals is to increase parents' participation at the school this coming year.
"We have wonderful parents and we want them to become involved with their student's education at LVES," she said.
"Lake Valley has always been known for its caring and dedicated staff," she added. "We are a family that cares about our staff and our students."
Her physical education background, and participation in running activities for the past 41 years, gave Cordes another idea for rewarding Lake Valley students.
"I noticed a lot of incentives for the students are food related. I would like to see that changed to something else, like extra recess time," she said, citing the numerous pizza parties students receive as a bonus. "Research proves the benefits of keeping the brain and the body active."
Tusanne's husband, Kelly Cordes, is also a teacher; he works at Granite Mountain Middle School in the Prescott Unified School District.
"I am deeply committed to LVES," Tusanne Cordes said.
Back to School Night for parents and students is Thursday, Aug. 5, from 4:30-6 p.m.
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Posted: Thursday, August 05, 2010
Article comment by:
Elizabeth Blank
I am so proud, well done!
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