Dr. Porter announces she's leaving SHS
Written by Rebecca Andrews, Former Student on Thursday, May 19, 2016
After being the principal for eight years, Dr. Beth Porter announced that she would be leaving SHS to become the Director of Human Resources in Renton County.
“The easiest way I can explain it is it’s like I am the assistant principal of the HR department,” said Porter. “I have duties regarding how the HR runs, how our online programs work, our subs, applications, any employee investigations if there was a complaint. I will do a huge variety of things.”
Porter will be leaving at the end of this school year. “I was not actively looking for a job, this job was brought to me,” she said. To Porter, it seemed like great opportunity. “[Working with people and organizing and managing complex systems] are really intriguing to me- [this] is the only job I applied for this year.”
Porter has been involved in the school system since 2001 when she became the assistant principal at SHS. She held this position until 2007 when she switched to be the principal at the freshman campus, which she helped phase out as freshman were integrated into the SHS campus. In 2008, she became the SHS principal.
The search for a new principal has already begun. “First,” said Porter. “I notified the superintendent- of course he knew I was interviewing for the job. Second, the job was posted, and soon applications will start coming in.” Interviews will begin May 26.
“[A good principle] loves kids and can manage complex problems,” she said. “And they need to be confident in who they are and how they do things. I guess that’s important for any job- but confidence is extremely important for a principle.”
After working in the Snohomish School District for 15 years, Porter said she “[will miss] the comradery with the staff and students. It’s a unique place to work and be a part of the community. And I’ll miss the panther traditions. I’ll have to retire ‘Pantherific.’”
