Three perspectives for the seat of principal of Thunder Mountain High School talked about their experience and plus-points during public interviews with TMHS staff.
Two candidates from within the Juneau School District — Laura Scholes and Shawn Arnold, as well as one candidate for the Kotzebue school system, Karen Keck, have applied for the position.
Prospective candidates had the chance to meet the students and communicate with them about the students’ priorities for the school on Tuesday evening, according to district chief of staff Kristin Bartlett.
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The interviewing staff will discuss the prospective principals before forwarding a recommendation to JSD Superintendent Bridget Weiss, who will announce a decision after considering the recommendation.
Kelly Steward, who worked at Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx — Glacier Valley School before sliding into the role of acting assistant principal at TMHS was recently appointed permanently to the role.
Laura Scholes
The first candidate interviewed was current Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School assistant principal Laura Scholes. Scholes also served as interim assistant principal for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for a time.
“I have been a teacher in the Juneau School District for 20 years,” Scholes said in her opening remarks. “I have taught every grade between second and 12th at some capacity.”
Scholes’ time in Juneau has given her a solid background in the area, including encountering many former students as she looked at TMHS. Those relationships are important with TMHS’ regular turnover of management staff.
“I’ve built relationships with the cabinet, with central office and with other administrators across the school district,” Scholes said. “As I come into the school, I already feel welcome. I know many of the teachers, and I know many more of the students.”
Those relationships and consistency in the principal’s office would be key towards building school culture, with upperclassmen saying that the underclassmen have difficulties connecting with that culture by virtue of their tenuous tenancy in the school building itself necessitated by COVID, Scholes said.
“I have my own vision of what Thunder Mountain could be. I hope it becomes a shared vision. But I wouldn’t push through anything that isn’t shared,” Scholes said. “Where you put your money is where your priorities start. It says a lot about your values. Does it increase equity? Does it increase access for all students?”
Shawn T. Arnold
Arnold was the second to interview. Arnold is currently student services director for the district and has served previously as superintendent in Nome and Valdez, as well as a previous career in the military.
“There are a lot of strengths. I wouldn’t have put in for this job if I didn’t think this was a great school and it was a school I wanted to be part of,” Arnold said. “It’s got some of the best teachers I’ve seen in my career. There’s a lot of elements of success at this school.”
Much of what he learned both from school and work would serve him well at TMHS, Arnold said.
“I was very fortunate to have great teachers as role models when I was growing up,” Arnold said. “I had a lot of mentors in my military life. A lot of what I learned about leadership there translates to leadership in education.”
Arnold also spoke about the importance of building trust and regularity.
“Going into a role where there has been turnover, the most important thing about establishing myself as a leader is establishing trust, making sure people can trust me, and establishing relationships,” Arnold said.
Karen Keck
The third and final candidate, Karen Keck, comes from the Northwest Arctic Borough School District.
“I would say the primary things that have prepared me for this, many years in the classroom. I have taught high school for over 20 years,” Keck said. “I’m excited to be part of a school that;s so high-functioning.”
Keck said that as she’s from out of town, part of her job would be learning the culture even as she seeks to build it out within the school.
“My first year would be all about learning the current culture,” Keck said. “My understanding from the student group feels as if there’s been a real disconnect between the freshman/sophomores and junior/seniors.”
Keck emphasized the importance of diversity and equity in the school environment.
“If people are appreciating diversity, if they’re appreciating what everyone can bring to the table — I love that there’s so much of that here,” Keck said. “It seems like there’s inclusion through diversity. Through that there’s greater equity.”
Keck highlighted her long experience teaching, working with a variety of management, staff, and students. “I’ve had the good fortune to work with a really wide variety of administrators. I see what is great and what is unproductive or actually negative for the school system,” Keck said. “We have such a responsibility to make it as good and high quality as we want for the students.”
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
