Submitted photoWade Beale is the new principal at W.G. Nunn Elementary School. 

VALDOSTA —  Valdosta City Schools has welcomed three new principals to the school system for the 2018-19 school year.

One is brand new to the system. Another has worked here most of their career. All three new principals’ experience goes beyond 25 years in Georgia education.

Elena Ponder, J.L. Newbern Middle School’s principal, came to the city school system last year as a Valdosta High School teacher. However, she has 18 years of administrative experience in the Brooks County School System, most recently as the Brooks County High School principal.

Artrice Haugabrook has spent all but one year of her education experience in the city school system. Formerly the Sallas Mahone Elementary School assistant principal, she was promoted to principal when her boss, Gary Glover, retired.

Wade Beale, W.G. Nunn Elementary School principal, comes from the Echols County School System. He was the Echols County Elementary and Middle School principal for eight years.

The Valdosta Daily Times asked the three new principals their goals and what they plan to bring to their new positions.

Valdosta Daily Times: What do you already love about your new position?

Ponder: These students here have been excellent. I have a wonderful faculty and great clerical staff. They have welcomed me with open arms when I came here and helped me acclimate myself to Newbern Middle.

Haugabrook: Being principal, I feel like I get to impact all of the children and spend time with all of them across the entire school. That’s one of the things I love most — not only with the children, but with the teachers. I am such a people person, and I love relationships.

Beale: I love my staff. They’re willing to work to be committed to make this academic turn-around. I’ve gotten to meet many parents and have already started making those relationships with them.

Valdosta Daily Times: What goals do you have this year?

Ponder: Before I came here, I was hearing so many stories about Newbern being a bad school. It has a negative connotation out in the community, but it is the school for a lot of children in the area. We’re doing a makeup job. I want parents to know when their kids come here, they’re safe, and they’re going to be educated. 

Haugabrook: One of my biggest goals is to increase students reading. We’re competing with the technology age where they’re not having to read as much because they’re on their devices, so reading has taken a hit across our nation. What I want to do at Sallas Mahone is to really figure out why our children aren’t reading on grade level and how we can fix that. 

Beale: First of all, I want to build positive relationships with the teachers, parents and students. We have some things we’ve got to work on academically, and our goal is to raise the academic standards of our students. The first step is to build those relationships. 

Valdosta Daily Times: How has your previous experience prepared you for this position?

Ponder: I’ve been well trained in all areas — from special ed to parent involvement to discipline to working with teachers and the central office. I have that background knowledge from a lot of the jobs I’ve had. It’s nothing new, and I don’t really need to be trained. However, I’m always learning something new everyday. 

Haugabrook: Although I’m new in the position, I’m not new to Sallas Mahone. I know our children and teachers and our families. Also, I’ve been a principal before. Although that was about 15 years ago, I do still have the experience running and managing a school. 

Beale: Especially when you first start, you try to tackle everything. A lot of it is what I call fluff — it’s not the meat and potatoes. What I’ve learned from my experiences is to see through the fluff and deal with that meat and potatoes. Get to what the real issue is. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.