INSIDE THE EDITION...
BEFORE READING
O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN
BUDGET CUTS
STRESS HAVEN
Dr. Brown shares parting thoughts with students
Have you noticed a change in your classes?
Behind the culture of achievement at Haven
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Panther
This edition contains serious discussions of mental health. If you are sensitive to this content, continue with caution.
Press
STRATH HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL, WALLINGFORD, PA
DECEMBER 2019
WHY ARE WE STRESS HAVEN? >PAGES 6 & 7
*Graphic Design by senior Hail Thomas
Haven Says Farewell to Dr. Brown
As we near the end of an era, students and collegues of Dr. Brown reflect on his time as Strath Haven High School Principal Evelyn Meeker, ‘21
O
Editor-in-Chief n November 26, Dr. Kristopher Brown announced to teachers that he will be leaving Strath Haven High School in late January for a position as District Equity Officer of Abington Township.
here—because I wanted to work with Dr. Brown.” Assistant Principal Andrea LaPira also shared her experiences working with Dr. Brown:
Senior and Student Council President Anya Hooper addressed how the school may be feeling in light of Brown’s leaving.
“Much of what he did was deal with discipline which isn’t always cut and dry. A lot of times it involves multiple students with multiple versions of a different story, and listening to everybody and trying to figure it out. So I always considered him to be fair and judicious with students. He’s enthusiastic, he’s passionate,” She said. “I’ve enjoyed working with him. I’m sad to see him go, but I think his new opportunity suits him perfectly.”
“It’s not ideal, but it’s happening,” Hooper said. “Students are still wrapping their heads around the change, and I think we all feel it. It’s a big adjustment, but my eye is on the students, their well-being, and making sure we’re all getting better resources in place to support us.”
Additionally, Director of Elementary Education, Dr. Jennifer Gaudioso, will be leaving in January for a position at Lower Merion. This announcement came to the faculty on November 27, one day after Dr. Brown announced his departure.
While at the Middle School, current Strath Haven High School Assistant Principal and District Coordinator Dr. Chris Matsanka worked with Dr. Brown, who was in charge of Keystone testing. Now, the two work closely at the High School.
At the school board meeting on December 9, Superintendent Lisa Palmer shared that the school hopes to find someone already working in the district to fill the position as interim principal.
Dr. Brown came to Strath Haven in 2014 and served as assistant principal before becoming principal last year. As we near the end of this era, those who worked alongside him shared their thoughts.
“Right from the get go I always enjoyed working with him,” Matsanka said. “He’s just a very caring and intelligent man that always seems to have the well-being of the school and the kids at the forefront of everything that he does, and I picked that up from him like right when I met him. He’s very easy to work with. It was one of the reasons I came
Change is certainly in the mix for Strath Haven High School and the Wallingford Swarthmore School District, but Ms. LaPira hopes to reassure the community. “I think we work in a building of committed administrators and teachers,” LaPira said. “And we hope to continue to provide a really great experience for our students from now until the time a new principal is found.”
Dr. Kris Brown / Ben Ainslie ’21
“The hardest thing about leaving Strath Haven is leaving the connections that I have made with students.” Read a farewell from Dr. Brown.
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