FHS to start hiring process for new assistant principal

Talk about it

There’s a vacancy on the Farmington High School administrative team. It’s one that principal Ben Kusch would like to fill soon, but he’s still going to take his time to make sure he finds the right person.

The position is that of assistant principal, vacated last week when Kerry Timmerman left FHS to take the principal’s job at Park of Cottage Grove High School. Timmerman’s first day in Cottage Grove was Oct. 26, which now leaves FHS short one assistant principal.

Timmerman had been in Farmington for six years, Kusch said. In that time, he was in charge of setting the building schedule, acted as activities director and oversaw the clocking system for hourly employees. Timmerman was also in charge of the advance placement programs, and the College in the Schools and Senior to Sophomore programs that put high school students in college-level classes.

“Kerry was a great asset to our high school and our community, and I hate to see him go,” Kusch said. “Kerry has done some really great things for our students and our school and our community.”

The FHS administrative team members are each taking a few of Timmerman’s duties until a new assistant principal is located, Kusch said.

Kusch planned to get the opening posted earlier this week, with the hope of filling the vacant assistant principal’s job as soon as possible. Of course, he said, that will depend on the number of applications received and the caliber of the applicants.

Working with students and parents is important, but Kusch is really looking for someone who will work well with everyone he or she comes in contact with as an assistant principal.

“More than anything, we’re going to be looking for someone who has the skill set to be part of an administrative team, who garners respect and integrity, and who can work with our students and parents. Someone who will fit in with the administrative team in a small sense, but in a larger sense, too, as a community team leader,” Kusch said.

In a sense, Kusch is looking for someone who exhibits many of the same traits as Timmerman did at FHS.

“I was privileged to work with him as long as I did. A lot of assistant principals are on their way to principal jobs. If anyone was ready for it, it was Kerry,” Kusch said.

Tags: district 192, news, education, farmington