Principal is comfortable with new job
Starting over in a new job can be intimidating for many, but Tami Flowers, the new principal of Westmont Elementary School, says she is quite comfortable.
Tami Flowers is the new principal at Westmont Elementary School. She says she is feels comfortable in the position.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"The school is similar in demographics to Martinez (Elementary School), so I felt like it would be a good match," the former Martinez Elementary assistant principal said. "I also knew some of the personnel who worked here and felt comfortable working with them."
Flowers' familiarity with the school extended beyond the teachers that will work for her.
"Also, Westmont is the feeder school to Columbia Middle, where I used to teach. I felt like I was familiar with many of the families already."
Originally from Valley Forge, Pa., Flowers' first teaching job was in Arlington, Texas. She then moved to Columbia County when her husband, William, took a job as the pastoral care director at the Medical College of Georgia. She spent seven years teaching math and science at Columbia Middle and the past three years as assistant principal at Martinez Elementary.
Although Flowers knew many of her new co-workers, she also recently hired many new teachers. Some of Westmont's teachers left to fill vacancies at the new River Ridge Elementary, or at other schools. About one-third of Westmont's teaching staff is new, Flowers said.
"I see it as an advantage, because I think whenever you bring in new people, you bring in new ideas," she said.
Flowers recently held a dinner party that gave the teachers of Westmont an opportunity to exchange ideas and build relationships, she said.
"Right now, our goal is to get to know each other," she said. "We're going to build camaraderie among our teachers. We need to build community within ourselves and with the parents."
Flowers also has a more elevated ambition for her new school.
"My lofty goal is to make it the best school it can be," she said. "I feel that it is an honor and a privilege to be here. I want to make sure every individual gets the best education possible."