Eighth– and ninth-graders were welcomed to a new school year by Assistant Principal Janel Dorn, Pine View’s newest administrator. Dorn has brought with her several years of administrative experience at Sarasota High School and has replaced former Assistant Principal Michael James.
According to Principal Dr. Stephen Covert, staff change was the result of position shifts decided by the school district. Covert worked with executive director Steve Cantees to select an ideal fit for the Pine View community. In addition to standard criteria such as communication skills, Covert sought an individual with an understanding of gifted students and passion for the position.
“We’re a campus of very different, gifted individuals, and you have to love that — and she does,” Covert said. He added that she is “an administrator with experience in elementary, middle and high school, which is great for our school.”
Dorn taught gifted students at Heron Middle School for seven years before interning as an administrator for one year at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus. Since then, she had spent two years as an assistant principal at Sarasota High.
Like Covert, Dorn feels that her range of experience will assist her in her new role. “I hope that I’m a good fit because of my experience at all levels with a diverse population,” she said.
Dorn has been heavily involved with technology throughout the district and was one of several project managers of Pine View’s TelLab. This year, she will be involved in training and technology.
“I’m expecting to be a little overwhelmed,” Dorn admitted, saying that there would be “lots of wheels spinning at the same time.” “I’m expecting a lot of unique students and circumstances.”
However, Dorn remained optimistic about the upcoming year. “I’m looking forward to all of it. I think I have a healthy degree of nervousness and excitement,” she said.
So far, Dorn has enjoyed the variety on campus. “It’s so neat to be here at Pine View,” she said, “where I can go from an AP class observation into the cafeteria for second grade lunch duty.”
She added, “I think I’m adjusting really well… I learn something every single day. I am really enjoying the diversity on our campus.”