New principals hired for North Thurston, Rochester schools | The Olympian

The end-of-the-school-year principal shuffle has begun.

Kelley Bremgartner will begin July 1 as the principal at Grand Mound Elementary School in the Rochester School District.

She previously led the special education program for the Chehalis School District and has more than 25 years of teaching experience, according to the Rochester School District. During the past school year, Bremgartner has served as an administrative intern at R.E. Bennett Elementary School in Chehalis.

Bremgartner has a bachelor’s degree from Saint Martin’s University, a master degree in education from City University and is working on administrative credentials through Western Governors University.

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“I am excited to be joining such a strong team of educators with a clear passion for the work they do with students,” Bremgartner said in a statement. “The administrative team is very friendly and shows a genuine desire to support the staff in their work with students in the Rochester School District. I feel very fortunate to be selected to be part of this team.”

Bremgartner replaces Casey Crawford, who has been hired to lead Woodland Elementary School in Lacey, which is closer to his home. Crawford will replace David Warning, who is retiring.

“A member of the Crawford family has been involved with North Thurston Public Schools for the last 60 years. For me, this is coming home,” Crawford stated in an all-staff memo sent by North Thurston Superintendent Raj Manhas. “I am proud to be a product of NTPS. The staffs at Lydia Hawk, Nisqually and Timberline contributed greatly in my desire to be an educator.”

Crawford has bachelor and master degrees from the University of Washington, and principal certification from City University. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Seattle Pacific University, assisting in their principal professional certification program.