6/21/2009 9:52:00 PM
Achievers:
State administrators crown Rex with middle school honor
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Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier
Kristin Rex, principal at Glassford Hill Middle School in Prescott Valley, received the Arizona School Administrators Middle School Principal of the Year Award for 2008-09. |
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PRESCOTT VALLEY - Kristen Rex said she has enjoyed her stint as principal for Glassford Hill Middle School for the past nine years because every day is a new adventure.
"You can walk in the door first thing in the morning with 15 people waiting, needing something," Rex said. "It can be anything from a happy parent, an angry parent, a lost pair of glasses, a substitute (teacher) needing lesson plans for the day."
Rex, 42, apparently relishes in her role.
During her tenure she has implemented innovative programs, according to Roger Short, executive director of Arizona School Administrators, which has about 2,000 members. He cited her programs to create longer class periods, enable teachers to work in groups and help fifth-graders in elementary schools to transition to sixth grade in the middle school.
The association this past Monday presented Rex with a Distinguished Administrators award for being the top middle school principal in the state for the year, Short said.
Short, former superintendent for the Prescott Unified School District and previous interim superintendent in the Humboldt Unified School District, said Rex's longevity at Glassford Hill Middle School helped her to achieve the honor.
"She is an outstanding educational leader and a credit to Glassford Hill Middle School and the Humboldt Unified School District," said Short, who has known Rex for seven years.
Rex said the award amounted to her top honor of her career and came as a "great surprise. It is always nice when you are nominated by your peers."
She said teachers Cheryl Taylor and Leta Barnes and former student Austin Turner nominated her for the award.
As principal, Rex presides over a campus with 720 students (during the past school year) and about 90 employees, including 47 teachers.
Rex, who was born and raised in Marana near Tucson and started her teaching career there, said she comes from a family of teachers. Her parents, Jim and Jo Rex, who maintain residences in Marana and the White Mountains, are retired teachers.
Other teachers in her family include her brother, her sister-in-law, and five aunts and uncles, Rex said.
Rex earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education - with a minor in journalism - from Northern Arizona University in 1988, and started her teaching career at Desert Winds Elementary School in Marana in 1989.
She earned several other degrees and credentials from NAU since she started her career: a master's degree in educational leadership in 1993, an administrative certification in 1998 and a superintendent certification in 2004.
Rex also is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership at Harrison-Middleton University in Tempe.
Before joining Glassford Hill Middle School, Rex also taught seventh- and eight-graders in Marana.
Rex said she has seen a number of changes at the middle school over the past nine years.
"It's definitely better," she said. "It is still evolving into a culture of learners. It is always a work in progress."
One work in progress is the ongoing remodeling of the auditorium - the only one in the Humboldt district - during the summer, Rex noted. The project, which voter-approved B bond money is paying for, is due for completion in July.
Rex said her three teen-age children all graduated from the middle school. She lives with her husband, Bryan Snyder, in Dewey with daughter Shea, 18, and sons James, 15, and Riley, 14.
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Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Debbie yesensky
I would like to congratulat Kristen Rex. I am very glad i moved to Glassford hills Middle School. I am enjoying working there Mrs Rex is a wounderful person to work for. She is kind and listens to what you have to say. Oh and she loves plants.. WAY TO GO KRISTEN REX....
Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Z64
Not only a great principle, but her peach cobbler is the best in the world!!
Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Herman Schloss
I have been a substitute teacher since my retirement in 1991 and have subbed in schools at all levels in Tucson, Benson and the Prescott area. Kristen Rex is by far the best principal of all. It is a pleasure to sub at Glassford Hill. Congratulations, Kristen.
Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
Article comment by:
John Nixon
Congratulations, Kristen. This is a wonderful achievement.
Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Roger Williams
In my 39 years of teaching I had always said that the first principal I worked for was the best I had ever had. That was before I had the privilege of working for Kristen Rex at Glassford Hill Middle School. She is, without a doubt, the finest principal for whom I have ever worked, and this honor is richly deserved. Congratulations, Kristen.
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