Principals hired for Pioneer Elementary, ORLA

The Olympia School Board has unanimously agreed to hire Mark Connolly as the new Pioneer Elementary principal and Celeste Waltermeyer as the permanent school leader at the Olympia Regional Learning Academy.

The board agreed to the principal hires during its meeting late Monday (March 21), according to a news release.

Waltermeyer served as interim principal at ORLA while Joy Walton Kawasaki was on leave. Kawasaki recently announced she would resign.

Waltermeyer also had worked as ORLA’s assistant administrator, after working 14 years at Yelm High School as an administrative intern, dean of students, ASB adviser, culminating project coordinator and teacher.

Waltermeyer has a bachelor’s degree from Saint Martin’s College, a master’s degree from Walden University in Minnesota, and an educational leadership endorsement from Western Governor’s University in Salt Lake City.

Connolly comes to the Olympia School District after having served six years as principal at Rose Valley and Carrolls elementary schools in the Kelso School District. He has served for seven years as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at the Washington State University campus in Vancouver.

Connolly worked three years as director of elementary education in Kelso, eight years as elementary principal at Butler Acres Elementary in Kelso, seven years as an elementary teacher in the Puyallup School District, and two years as a teacher in Puyallup’s STARS program.

Connolly has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University, a master’s degree from City University, and a doctorate degree and superintendent credential from Washington State University. He was named Cowlitz County Outstanding Administrator of the Year and Kelso School District Administrator of the Year.

He replaces Linda Heade, who served as interim principal at Pioneer this past year.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Principals hired for Pioneer Elementary, ORLA."