Katrina Lawrence has been named principal of Hillcrest Elementary School by Supt. Jim Scales.
Ms. Lawrence, who is currently the elementary principal at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, replaces Rebecca Everett who retired in May.
Ms. Lawrence participated in the new principal selection process that features an interview panel of teachers, community members and administrators along with a formal presentation. Dr. Scales conducted a second round of interviews with selected candidates and made the final decision.
“I was impressed with Ms. Lawrence’s understanding of the needs of the students at Hillcrest Elementary,” Dr. Scales said. “I know she will be a dynamic fit for that school to help student achievement move to the next level.”
Ms. Lawrence began her career in education in 1989 in Phoenix, Ariz. She taught in Bellefontaine City Schools in Ohio for five years before becoming an assistant principal at a middle school in Piqua City, Ohio. She moved onto being principal of East Elementary in Urbana, Ohio, in 1998 and then to an elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, before moving to Hamilton County as principal of White Oak Elementary School in 2004. She transferred to CSAS in August 2005 when White Oak Elementary closed.
Dr. Scales also appointed Steve Ball as principal of all of CSAS, grades K through 12. Mr. Ball is currently the upper school principal at CSAS. In the coming months, the District will hire an assistant principal for the elementary grades, resulting in an overall savings to Hamilton County Schools.