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Pietsch Governs Chiles Elementary

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By SARAH ROTHWELL

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

TAMPA PALMS - Principal Kim Pietsch is excited to be back at Chiles Elementary, where she was an assistant principal from 2001 to 2005.

She started her employment with the Hillsborough County School District in 1989 as a teacher at Lewis Elementary School, where she remained until she was transferred in 1996 to a teaching position at Tampa Palms Elementary School.

She was appointed principal at Lockhart Middle School in fall 2005.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm so excited I'm bursting at the seams. I can't wait to reconnect with the families I already know and meet all the new families. I want to continue the excellence level at the school and then take it up a notch.

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Interacting with the children is my favorite part of the job. I love being in the classrooms. I like to know every student personally because it's encouraging to them.

Q. Do you learn all of the students' names?

A. Yes, I will know all of their names. It may take the whole year, but I will.

Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?

A. The most challenging thing is maintaining the energy and a vision for the school throughout the year.

Q. What was your first day like as a principal?

A. I was at Lockhart. I was new, so I didn't have a connection yet with any of the students like I had at Chiles. So, I missed that, but in time, I built it up.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started as an educator?

A. There's a lot more accountability. Schools are being graded. I think it's good. It's important to have an assessment on how well we are doing.

Q. What is your favorite food in the school cafeteria?

A. Tater tots. There's nothing like greasy tater tots. The cheese sticks are really good, too.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell @tampatrib.com.

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