Our View: AHS loses a leader - Gate House

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May 20. 2015 12:01AM Our View: AHS loses a leader Congratulations are in order to Ashland High School Principal Michelle Zundel, who will become the Medford School District's new chief academic officer July 1. But the goodwill is tinged with regret that Zundel will no longer lead Ashland's award-winning high school in her award-winning fashion. Medford's gain is Ashland's loss. Zundel has been principal at AHS for only five years, but she has left her mark nonetheless. Student achievement increased during her tenure, and in four of those five years, AHS was awarded a silver medal in U.S. News and World Report's rankings of best high schools. Zundel has been an educator for 25 years, five years as a teacher and 20 years as a district administrator. This year, she was honored with a national Women in School Leadership Award by the  American Association of School Administrators. The award recognized "a demonstration of strength in both personal and organizational communication, professionalism, and community involvement.” Zundel will be the first to hold the new position of chief academic officer. The position was created as part of Medford Superintendent Brian Shumate's reorganization of his administrative team. Among her duties will be overseeing the district's instructional initiatives, part of the new superintendent's goal of increasing high school graduation rates. Zundel said the decision to accept the new position was a difficult one because it means leaving the staff, students and families of the Ashland district. We know we join those families and colleagues in wishing her well in her new endeavor.    http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150520/opinion/150529986 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->