It is with great joy and anticipation that I accept the leadership position as Principal at Clyde Hill Elementary.   Your school as well as the Bellevue School District is known for its high standards and academic excellence. It will be a privilege to contribute to one of Washington's most respected school districts and to the Clyde Hill community.

By way of introduction, I would like to share some of my educational and professional background with you and tell you a bit about myself:

I began my career over 25 years ago as an elementary teacher in Northwest Georgia and taught third and fourth grade. With a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and enough experience to leave me with many more questions than answers about how children learn, I returned to school at the University of Tennessee to earn a Master's Degree in Special Education. Within a few years of earning my Master's Degree, I returned to school for a third time to complete my post baccalaureate work at the University of West Georgia where I earned my Ed. Sp. in Educational Leadership.

It has been my passion over the years to work collaboratively with staff and parents to insure that all students receive and benefit from a consistent, quality learning experience that takes into account the individual learning needs of all students. As the instructional leader and principal of your school, I highly value parental engagement and believe that your participation is vital as we work together to provide an excellent educational experience for all children. I would also like you to know that I value and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your child's life and educational experience.

Some interesting aspects of my career path have included experience as a middle level Principal. This role provided me with an understanding of how our students need to be prepared with the ability to learn in more independent ways and possess a level of intrinsic motivation as they approach adolescence. I have also worked as an international educator for seven years, first as a Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning at The Carol Morgan School in Santo Domingo and then as an Elementary Principal at the Shanghai American School. These experiences provided me with a glimpse of how we must begin to prepare our "state-side" American students for a very competitive future and global society. My "expat" experience also provided me with an understanding of cultural diversity as well as a deep appreciation for my own heritage as an American. I developed a great love for travel that takes me off "the beaten path" and I enjoy planning for and dreaming about, "the next adventure."

Over the next couple of weeks I will be working with the school and PTA to develop a calendar so that I might spend some time at school before the year is complete and learn about school procedures and the Clyde Hill Community. I have already had the pleasure of meeting with your current Principal, Christy Krutulis, and your 2013/14 PTA President, HyAnne Neff, and I would like to thank them for the time and generous support that they have offered to me as I transition to your community. I wish you all a productive and rewarding close to the 2012/13 school year and look forward to meeting you all soon!

Warm Regards,

Mary Olin