Kelsey Winningham, currently the Assistant Principal at Franklin and Kamiak Elementary, was selected through a rigorous process and was among three finalist candidates to be recommended for hire as Principal of Jefferson Elementary School beginning on July 1, 2024.
The recommendation to appoint Mrs. Winningham to the position of Principal at Jefferson Elementary School will be considered by the Pullman School District Board of Directors at the April 24, 2024 board meeting. We are pleased with the strong applicant pool that was interviewed and are confident that we have recommended an excellent administrator for Jefferson Elementary.
A comprehensive interview process was conducted on April 18, 2024 and included a formal interview and presentation to the interview committee, a written exercise, an observation and written feedback of a lesson, a tour of Jefferson, an interview with Jefferson students, and open forums for staff and the community. Kelsey Winningham emerged as a capable and desirable candidate. Kelsey is currently serving our students and staff at Franklin and Kamiak as the Assistant Principal, and previously served as the Associate Administrator for Jefferson/Franklin Elementary for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
The interview committee consisted of district and building administrators, a board member (Director Arron Carter), a district instructional coach, six (6) Jefferson staff members, and two (2) Jefferson parents selected by lottery.
Students from Jefferson that met with Mrs. Winningham noted that "she was honest, kind, assertive, and thoughtful."
Staff members and community members joined the candidates at two open forums where they had the opportunity to meet and talk to each candidate. The feedback from staff and community members was very supportive of selecting Mrs. Winningham as the Principal for Jefferson Elementary. One employee noted that because Mrs. Winningham has experience at Jefferson, "she already has a relationship with many students, staff, and parents. Her philosophy aligns with the philosophy of many of the staff at Jefferson." Mrs. Winningham has "a student's first attitude" and "has spent time at PSD elementary schools so has a diverse picture of PSD.” A parent noted that Mrs. Winningham “has a very clearly defined vision for Jefferson over the next several years. She wants to see Jefferson become a strong central point for learning, while also maintaining that special feeling Jefferson is unique for."
Mrs. Winningham brings with her elementary-level teaching experience gained during her time in Nampa, ID, along with administrative expertise acquired through her roles as Associate Administrator and Elementary Assistant Principal in the Pullman School District. She is a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University and holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University. Superintendent Dr. Bob Maxwell said, “Kelsey Winningham has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to the students, staff, and families of Pullman School District. Her commitment to fostering a nurturing learning environment, coupled with her innovative approaches to education, will continue to elevate and positively impact the growth and success of our school community. We are thrilled that Kelsey will continue serving Pullman School District as the Principal for Jefferson Elementary."
We look forward to welcoming back Mrs. Winningham to Jefferson Elementary School!