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Perham hires new elementary principal
Published 6:00am Saturday, September 6, 2008Budget cuts notwithstanding, the Perham-Dent School Board felt it was necessary to replace the departed Kim Grengs who formerly served as principal for both Heart of the Lakes grade school in Perham and the grade school in Dent.
“We’re pleased to have Kari Yates as our new principal for the grade schools,” said Perham-Dent School Superintendent Tamara Uselman. “Kari formerly served in the education field at Parkers Prairie and before that was a teacher in Fergus Falls. So she brings a good and varied background to our school system.”
Perham-Dent lost another administrator with the retirement of middle school principal Kitty Krueger. Replacing Krueger is former high school dean of students Scott Bjerke who formerly served in the Fergus Falls school system.
A reduction in administration took place when the dean of students position at the high school was cut as part of budget reductions.
Grengs left the Perham-Dent school system to become one of five elementary school principals at Farmington School District 192, just south of the Twin Cities. She assumed her duties July 1.
“Kim was a great instructional leader and a great building manager the past three years,” said Uselman.
“That’s a rare combination.”
It was a coming home of sorts for Grengs and her husband, Brent, when they returned to Farmington. She formerly served as a teacher in the Farmington school system, at both the elementary and middle school levels. Brent accepted a teaching position in Farmington.
Uselman applauded Grengs’ work with the Character Counts program, Literacy Collaborative, math coaches and other educational programs in the Perham-Dent school district. She’s confident that Yates, as the new principal, will also provide the necessary leadership at both grade schools.
“We’re proud of the curriculum we offer and we have high expectations for each grade level,” Uselman said.
She said she appreciates the commitment of teachers, fellow administrators, staff, students and parents who adhere to Perham-Dent District 549 goals.
The mission for Perham-Dent Public Schools is to “develop within students the appropriate skills, knowledge, and understanding that enable them to be successful in the next phase of their lives” and the school district motto is “to provide the best for all so that all may be their best.”
