The Webster County School District has hired two new principals, district administrators announced late last week. Both positions, one at Slaughters Elementary and the other at Providence Elementary, were vacancies due to recent resignations at each of the schools.

Greg Bowles was hired as the principal at Providence Elementary. Currently finishing out his contract as principal at Union County High School, Bowles was principal at Providence High School during the 2004-2005 school year, and has ties to the area, such as his membership at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.

Moving into an elementary principal position, as well as coming back to work in Webster County, is something Bowles said he’s been considering for some time.

“I’ve been looking for more time to spend with my family,” he said, noting that a lot of time is required after hours in a high school setting because of all the additional extra-curricular activities that require attention.

Bowles said he is aware of some of the issues Providence Elementary faces, such as challenges in raising attendance rates that were brought up at a recent Webster County Board of Education meeting held at Providence Elementary. Providence Site-Based Decision Making council members and outgoing principal Theresa Marshall, said at that meeting that attendance rates for the school run close to 91 percent, and asked the board to fund a full-time attendance director at the school.

Bowles said one of his main goals is to develop stronger ties between the school and community.

“We need to make sure their is school and community involvement,” Bowles said. “It’s going to require us to reach out, to stress the value of education, and attendance is a key concern of that,” he said.

“Bringing high expectations” and working closely with teachers to continue educational improvements will be another focus for Bowles.

“Everyone has to be held accountable,” he said.

Bowles officially begins the job as Providence Elementary principal on July 1. A reception will be held for him on Thursday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Providence Elementary cafeteria.

Marshall, who resigned from the position in late May, accepted a job with Crittenden County as a principal at the middle school there.

Slaughters Elementary’s new principal, Todd Marshall, has a long history with the Webster County School District, and felt the time was right for him to apply for a building principal position.

“I’ve been interested in becoming a building principal for quite some time,” Marshall said. “I thought that Slaughters would be a good fit.”

Though he hasn’t worked at Slaughters, Marshall, who is currently an assistant principal and athletic director at Webster County High School, said he is familiar with Slaughters Elementary through the time he spent there helping eighth-grade students transition to high school as freshman. He said he intends to help keep the school performing well on testing and academics.

“I’m not about changing,” he said, noting the school has done well on CATS testing. “I”m about maintaining excellence.

“I know the school system and I know the teachers,” he added.

Marshall said he plans to meet with the school’s SBDM and staff members closer to the start of the 2009-2010 school year.

Prior to his appointment, Marshall has served as a WCHS assistant principal for four years, worked two years as Webster County School District’s alternative learning center principal, and was a guidance counselor for four years. He has been employed in Webster County for eight years.

Marshall succeeds Kim Saalwaechter, who said she requested reassignment to a classroom teaching position so she would have more time to spend with her family.