When K-2 students arrive at North Creek Elementary School on Sept. 4, they’ll be greeted by a new principal.
“We are very excited to welcome Kimberly Gillow to North Creek and our administrative team,” said Julie Helber, superintendent of Chelsea District Schools.
The Chelsea Board of Education formally approved her hiring on July 30.
“Kimberly’s experience with early literacy will benefit both groups and our students. She is a compassionate, energized educator who will be an asset to the Chelsea School District,” Helber said.
Gillow has almost 21 years of experience with the young learners as a speech-language pathologist and teacher in the Dearborn and Dexter school districts and most recently as a principal in the Milan School District.
“My experience includes working as a speech-language pathologist, an elementary teacher (Young 5’s, Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade), a literacy intervention specialist, a K-12 instructional coach and an elementary principal,” Gillow told parents in an introductory letter.
In fact, teaching is a family affair for the Gillows. Her husband, Jeff, is a teacher and a coach at Saline Middle School.
They have two children and two goldendoodles.
“My goal is to support the North Creek students, staff and families as we learn and grow together,” she said in the letter to parents.
But before the school year begins, parents and students will have an opportunity to meet their new principal on Aug. 9 from 6-7:30 p.m. on the North Creek playground.
Gillow says the younger-age school children “energize her” and she can’t wait to get to know the kids and the staff at the school.
Most recently, Gillow was the principal at Symons Elementary in Milan and really enjoyed her time there. However, Chelsea held a special allure, and when she learned about the opening, “I would not have left Milan for any other district.”
Luman Strong, who was the principal at North, made the decision to return to Chelsea High School as an assistant principal.
When the school year rolls around, Gillow will have completed her 21st year in education.
So, what’s her key to getting North off to the right start? Communication with staff, students and parents, she said.
“Throughout the year, I hope you will visit often, stop in and/or call if you have celebrations, suggestions or concerns to share,” she told parents in her letter.
“I am proud to be joining the North Creek family and look forward to getting to know each of our children and their families,” she said.
So, what are her thoughts about leadership? It is “staying focused on what is best for children and making ethical decisions when faced with challenges,” Gillow stated on her resume.
Furthermore, “It is learning the story of the people around me and collaborating to inspire them to reach their highest potential.”
She attained a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University in 2016; a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Michigan University in 1998 and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Michigan University in 1996.
(Publisher’s note: Chelsea Update would like to welcome Gillow to the Chelsea District Schools and specifically to North Creek. We look forward to helping you let readers know about the highlights of the year ahead for you, your staff and your students.)
