Jason Lynch has days left as the reading specialist and Title 1/LAP coordinator for Grant Street Elementary, in the Port Townsend School District, before he takes over as the new principal of Chimacum Elementary July 1.

Although The Leader has already reported on Lynch’s new position, he took the time to share more details with the community, not only about where he is coming from, but also where he hopes the school can go.

Lynch compared the rural Oregon community of Redmond, where he grew up, to Port Townsend and Port Hadlock, “only without so much water and rain.”

After earning his undergraduate at Eastern Washington University, Lynch moved to the Seattle area to teach in the Northshore School District, where he met his wife.

“After five years or so, we both felt a longing to return to a smaller community, much like we grew up in,” Lynch said. “After a visit to this community, we both fell in love with the area.”

In the 14 years since, the Lynches have lived on the Quimper Peninsula and now feel “deeply connected” to the communities of Jefferson County.

Lynch, 45, spent five years teaching for the Port Angeles School District, and the past eight years teaching in Port Townsend at Mountain View, Blue Heron and Grant Street schools. He and his wife live in Port Townsend with their two daughters, who will continue to attend their neighborhood school in Port Townsend.

“As an educator, I feel compelled to have a broader impact on the students we serve,” Lynch said. “Working together with teachers, parents and the greater community, we have the opportunity to empower our youngest community members to a more successful future, for themselves and generations to come.”

‘ACHIEVEMENT GAP’

Lynch sees principals as being in a unique position to lead teachers in closing the achievement gap, as well as to support teachers in instructional development, and even “cultivate a positive school culture,” in which each student, teacher and parent feels valued.

“Building positive relationships with teachers, students, parents and community members is the foundation of school and student success,” Lynch said. “As principal at Chimacum Elementary, I will build on these relationships as an important step toward building a collective efficacy, where all teachers and staff believe that they can positively impact student achievement.”

From his 18 years as an elementary teacher, with experience in seven schools and three districts, Lynch has learned that “every school has its own culture, unique attributes, needs and areas of growth.” He described himself as drawn to Chimacum Elementary not only because it needed a principal, but also because he saw “a vibrant and talented staff working hard to impact student learning.

“I visited the school and found it to be positive,” Lynch said. “I could tell that the staff cares deeply about children. I plan on taking the time to understand the school culture at Chimacum Elementary, as well as build positive relationships with kids and adults, focus on increasing student achievement, and have fun in the process.”

Lynch credited his “fabulous” principal internship experience at Grant Street Elementary with helping to prepare him for his new role, as well as his three years on the Port Townsend School District administrative team as Title 1/Lap coordinator.

“I am eager to make a positive impact on student learning for the children served by Chimacum School District, and am honored to be the principal of Chimacum Elementary,” Lynch said.