Evans High Passes Trojans Torch to New Principal

Jenny Gibson-Linkh, new principal of Evans High School said today, she is excited and feels privileged to be taking over the school’s leadership.

At a ceremonial “passing of the Evans Trojans torch” on Wednesday outgoing principal, Dr. David Christiansen, who has led Evans High for the past five years, praised Gibson-Linkh and pointed out their similar philosophies with regard to the education and teaching profession.

Christiansen said, Gibson-Linkh had been “called to Evans High School,” and noted that they had been fellow assistant principals at Olympia High School.

“Jenny wants to be at Evans High School, believes in Evans High School and that’s critical,” he said. “She is an Exceptional Education Teacher… she is dynamic, positive, very hard working and she is committed. She is here because she wants to be here.”

Attended by local politicians, business leaders, community members, parents, faculty and staff, Christiansen told the gathering in the state of the art Media Center that it is an “exciting day for Evans High as it is an opportunity to officially past the torch of leadership.”

Christiansen said the vision to make Evans High a place of high achievement has transcended what could ever have been imagined. Whereas students shied away from the school, now that trend has been reversed. The school expects to enroll 2,600 students next year, up from 1,800 five years ago.

Christiansen also highlighted the school’s several accomplishments, including significantly improved graduation rates; drop out rates, currently 1 percent down from 11 percent in 2007; college readiness now 88 percent up from 32 percent; accelerated participation currently 94 percent from 14 percent and acceleration performance now 68 percent rising from 16 percent.

Once seen as a dropout factory by the Federal government a few years ago, Evans High is on track to achieve its highest overall score ever, Christiansen said. “We are hoping for a ‘B’ but it is possible we can be an ‘A,’ he added.

Asked what would be her top priorities, Gibson-Linkh said “she is going to continue to push the programs that have been very successful at Evans.” Reading is one area and the dress code policy, soon to be adopted, is something that will be enforced, she said.

“We are going to make sure that students are continually coming to school on time and are present in classrooms,” said Gibson-Linkh. “That’s one of the most important things, to make sure they are in attendance.”

When asked about the role of Evans’ community school, expected to be fully operational in the fall, Gibson-Linkh said it’s going to be a huge part of the school’s success.

“The Community School will continue to provide additional services, additional support necessary for our students to be successful,” she said. “Not having to worry about food, health care – those types of things – that’s so important for our students and I think that the Community School is just going to be a phenomenal part.” This community is very lucky to have it, she added.