Moscow Middle tabs Summers for principal

A familiar face will take over the principal position for Moscow Middle School next year.

On Wednesday, the Moscow School District voted to promote Teri Summers to the role.

Summers has been the middle school’s assistant principal since 2019. She will replace Bill Holman, who has led the school since 2018.

Summers previously worked as a first grade teacher at West Park Elementary.

Ten candidates applied for the principal position and four were interviewed by the district. Superintendent Shawn Tiegs called Summers a “really high-quality candidate” who is well respected in the Moscow Middle School building by staff and parents.

In other news, Tiegs continued a discussion on the district’s facilities needs during Wednesday’s meeting.

After the recent board decision to close down Russell Elementary School at the end of this school year, the district will soon go from having four elementary schools to three.

But Tiegs said he is also concerned about the future viability of West Park Elementary. This is largely because there is no more room for the school to grow on its current property, which he said is “not an ideal elementary location.”

“West Park, as is, is not a long-term third elementary school for this district,” Tiegs said.

He also shared concerns about space at Paradise Creek Regional High School, and for the expanded career and technical education program that the district wants to implement.

“If we want to grow and expand our CTE and Paradise Creek alternative school-type opportunities for our kids, we have to think about a better place to house them, or a bigger place that can really support them and the work that they do,” he said.

Paradise Creek Principal Brian Smith will lead that expanded CTE program.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.