New Principal Announced for Emerald Hills Elementary Next School Year

Sumner School Superintendent Craig Spencer announced Wednesday that Andrea Landes will serve as principal at Emerald Hills Elementary School in the coming 2013-14 school year.

“Andrea is a valued member of the Sumner School District leadership team. Her appointment reflects our commitment to recruit and retain staff members of the highest quality staff who share our core values about students and their learning.  She has a passion for helping all kids achieve and a commitment to staff and student learning,” says Superintendent Spencer.

Landes began her career in the Sumner School District in 2008 working as an elementary librarian at Bonney Lake and Victor Falls elementary schools.  She completed an administrative internship at Victor Falls, under the mentorship of Principal Beth Dykman.  She later served as Dean of Students at Victor Falls in addition to her role as a learning specialist and as a teacher leader in her building. During the current school year, Landes has served as assistant principal to Crestwood and Victor Falls elementary schools as part of the District’s commitment to provide additional staffing and support to schools where student needs are highest.

She will be filling the position currently held by Chuck Eychaner who announced to parents Wednesday he would be taking a leave of absence the next school year. He wrote in an e-communication sent yesterday: "During this time I will be looking at professional opportunities in educational leadership. I will continue the professional connections with staff and families in the district that I value, and I plan to continue the work with children and schools that I enjoy."

Eychaner expressed his confidence that Landes will be a good leader for the school and is working with her through the transition.

"You can expect to get the same high quality service from Principal Landes and the staff at Emerald Hills as you have gotten in the past. She will be sending a message to families tomorrow to introduce herself to our Laker families. I will be introducing her to students during our morning announcements next week," he wrote.

Landes is a graduate of the University of Washington in 1986 with a BA in Sociology and Elementary Education. She taught in the Northshore School District from 1988 to 1991.   She received a Master of Ministry from Northwest Nazarene University in 2005, a Master of Education and a Principal Certification in 2011 from the University of Washington.