A Florida Mesa second-grade teacher has been nominated to become the next principal at Animas Valley
Elementary School.

Lisa Schuba, a second-grade teacher at Florida Mesa Elementary School, was the top candidate to emerge
from a selection process that involved a 13-member committee of Animas Valley parents and staff. Her
proposed appointment will be forwarded to the Board of Education for its approval on the consent agenda
at its April 8 meeting.

Schuba will fill the current principal vacancy beginning Aug. 1. Former Animas Valley Principal Judy Wilkie
transferred to Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary at the beginning of the school year. Kathy Deaderick and Curtis
Johnson have served as interim principals while the search committee interviewed candidates.
Although the Animas Valley appointment will be her first as a principal, Schuba has widespread background
in elementary education and a long-standing history in Durango School District 9-R. She taught
kindergarten at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary and was the shared-school coordinator at Needham before
becoming a second-grade teacher at Florida Mesa.

During her time with District 9-R, Schuba has served on the Staff Development Advisory Committee, the
Negotiation Team, the Social Studies and Health Curriculum review committee, and the leadership and
behavior team within Florida Mesa.

Schuba began her education career 18 years ago in Connecticut, where she was a first/second-grade
assistant at The Foote School, a fourth-grade teacher at Barnard Elementary School, and an apprentice
teacher at The Shady Hill School.

Schuba earned a bachelor's degree in history from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master's degree in
education from Lesley College /Shady Hill School. She is expected to receive her principal’s license from
Adam State College in May 2008. She has completed professional development training in Orton-
Gillingham, Open Court Phonics, Everyday Math, Spalding Method, Reader’s Workshop, Step Up to
Writing, Six Trait Writing, as well as technology integration.

The Animas Valley Parent Teacher Organization will host an informal meet and greet for parents to visit
with Schuba at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, at Animas Valley. Parents may contact Renae Muller at
247-0124, ext. 3405 to reserve a spot. For more information, contact the Office of Public Information at
247-5411, ext. 1400.