The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, May 14, 2003

New principal is raring to go

By Sherris Moreira-Byers
Herald Staff Writer

Jim Anderson of Grove City likes new challenges. As of July 1, the Grove City Senior High School assistant vice principal will begin as principal of Grove City Middle School.

"I enjoy problem solving. I enjoy being in a leadership role, yet you can still interact with the kids," said the former Grove City school athletic director. "My approach is a team approach. I'm looking forward to working together as a team to solve problems and make things better."

His sports background has helped hone his approach to education. "Well, I played baseball and all sports in high school. I went to college to play baseball and had a short stint in the coaching field, including high school, college and one year in the minor leagues. Now I've resorted to coaching my boys' in their Little League teams," he said with a laugh.

His family includes wife Sheryl and three sons: Joshua, 12; Jonathan, 10, and Jordan, 6. "They're all in the school district and they will all be coming up through the middle school in several years. I'm excited about that," he said, adding wryly, "I don't know how it makes them feel, though." His family also includes his parents John and Donna Anderson of Jefferson Township.

Anderson has been with the district for six years -- first as athletic director for two years and then as assistant high school vice principal. He considers this position as excellent training ground for his upcoming one.

"I learned to deal with students as individuals. With each student you have to deal with each one differently. Some you come down hard on and some you have to take the soft approach. It's finding that balance," he said. "Kids need to be able to trust you. They have to know that you have a job to do but that you're looking out for their best interests. You have to build some kind of rapport with them and let them know that you're not looking to make their life miserable."

He also said it was equally important to work well with the teachers and other staff members. "You have to balance the other side of it -- where you are working for the teachers and with the teachers -- that you're supporting them as well," he said.

A strong education is another thing he has to offer the district. Anderson has two bachelor's degrees, both from Marietta (Ohio) College. One is in recreational management; the other is in special education. A master's in education with a principal certification from Westminster College in New Wilmington rounds out his educational experience.

Anderson will take over a position that has been technically vacant since late fall when Kathy Kelly left the position. It has been covered by assistant superintendent Tom Bell ever since. Anderson's starting salary will be $77,193.

Because his focus as assistant high school principal has been more on discipline and attendance, he said he looks forward to the challenge of handling all aspects of running the middle school's 7th- and 8th-graders.

"I think just being in the district and learning the inner workings of how the district is run has helped me in preparing for this job," he said. "Down there I've got it all to deal with and I'm looking forward to that actually. I'm looking forward to sort of broadening the things I do on a daily basis.

"Between meeting and getting to know all the faculty, and I'm sure many of the parents in the community know me already, it's not like I have to come into a new district where people have to get to know me," he said. "Most parents know what they're getting."

Anderson said being a role model is "definitely important" to him, especially in dealing with this age group. "They need someone they can look up to and feel comfortable with, and that they can share things with, especially at this time of their life and with the things they're going through. It's this time to make sure they stay on the right road," Anderson said, adding that it is equally important that he provides good leadership for the teachers and staff in the school. "I cannot expect teachers to do something if I don't live that."



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