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From math teacher to principal Tuesday Jul 25, 2017 at 5:00 PM Jul 25, 2017 at 5:00 PM Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune @teresathomas_MT North Medford High School Assistant Principal Aaron Luksich will take the helm of Wilson Elementary School in August, when its current principal, Gerry Flock, moves to Lone Pine Elementary. Luksich was one of five candidates interviewed for the position by a 16-member committee that included teachers, parents, support staff, administrators and board members. “Aaron’s leadership background, his passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning, and his participation in high-quality professional development makes him a perfect match for the staff and students and families at Wilson Elementary,” said Superintendent Brian Shumate in a memo to the Medford School Board. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and master’s degree from George Williams College of Aurora University, Luksich taught high school math in Wisconsin for seven years before moving to Medford in 2008 to teach math at South Medford High School. Since then, he’s climbed the district ranks, becoming dean of students at Hedrick Middle School in 2010 and assistant principal at NMHS in 2014. Luksich said he and his wife moved to the Rogue Valley because they thought it would be a great place to raise a family, and they appreciated all of its outdoor attractions. Although he’s never worked at the elementary level, he has been involved at his sons’ school, Griffin Creek Elementary, and spent time volunteering in their classrooms and participating in school events as a parent. He is also acquainted with the community, as Wilson Elementary is in the Hedrick Middle School and NMHS attendance area and serves many of the same families. Luksich said he’ll get “a crash course in everything elementary” in the next few weeks and plans to spend his first year at the school familiarizing himself with the school’s culture and curriculum, building relationships and “getting a read on what I can improve going forward.” And given his math background, he also hopes to be an asset to the school as it rolls out its new math curriculum this year. “I’m humbled and honored to be the candidate chosen,” he said. “It’s obviously going to be one heck of an undertaking, but it will be worth it in the end, and I think the roles I’ve had in the district have prepared me to take over for Gerry (Flock).” Flock, who was principal of Wilson Elementary for seven years, will replace Kristi Anderson as principal of Lone Pine, and Anderson will take over for Isis Contreras at Roosevelt Elementary. “Gerry Flock has created a lot of relationships (at Wilson), and he is going to be missed, but that is something that I can continue to improve on and that doesn’t have to dip with a new leader coming in,” Luksich said. — Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt.