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New Roosevelt principal chosen By DAMIAN MANN Anne Mitchell, media specialist at Jacksonville Elementary School, was chosen by the Medford School Board Tuesday to replace Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Joani Bristol, who is retiring this year. Apart from one year in the Roseburg area, Mitchell has spent the past 24 years teaching in the Rogue Valley. She has also taught at Ruch and Wilson elementary schools. Mitchell, 48, who has worked as media specialist and administrative assistant to the principal at Jacksonville, says she is now ready to tackle the challenge of being principal at Roosevelt. "After 24 years of teaching, I find that the leadership skills needed in schools become more and more essential each day," she said. The demands on administrators and teachers are greater than they ever have been, Mitchell acknowledged. "Society gives us more and more challenges," she said. "Teachers need every bit of support they can get." Superintendent Steve Wisely said the district considered 32 applicants from as far away as Canada and New Hampshire before settling on nine candidates for interviews. Wisely said the training and experience Mitchell received working in this district made her the best choice for the job. Mitchell will be leaving a school that has few students who are on the free and reduced lunch program for one that has a high number of students considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. Both schools have about the same number of students: roughly 400. "Kids are kids no matter where you go," said Mitchell. "But most definitely the Roosevelt population will give me challenges. There will be new opportunities." As principal, Mitchell said it will be important for her to keep in close touch with her students and keep parents involved in the education of their children. She said the Roosevelt staff has done a "commendable job" in making education decisions for the school. As media specialist and administrative assistant at Jacksonville, Mitchell believes she has received the kind of experience needed to be an administrator. "As a media specialist I have had lots of responsibilities," she said. "We teach every child in school every week." The media center serves as a library and a technology center. "It�s the hub of the school," she said. Mitchell lives in Central Point with her husband, Steve. A resident of the Rogue Valley for 26 years, she has one grown daughter, Jonna Johnson. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.