Dear Oak Harbor Families,
I am extremely excited to start another fantastic school year at OHE! My husband and I moved to Oak Harbor in 2022, and we truly love being part of this beautiful community. Mr. Merritt works for the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. We have three adult sons, who live near the Tacoma area of Washington. Our oldest son and his wife have four adorable children. We love being their grandparents!
I earned my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Western Washington University (WWU) in 2005. I spent the first 17 years of my career working in the Clover Park School District, which serves Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the City of Lakewood, Washington. I was an elementary classroom teacher, mentor to new teachers, National Board cohort facilitator, and a principal intern before taking on my two previous administrative roles. After completing my Masters in Educational Administration and Principal Certification through WWU, I spent my last year at Clover Park as the Site Coordinator for summer school and the Dean of Students at Hillside Elementary School.
I chose to move to Oak Harbor and join this team because I believe that every child has their own giftedness (or genius). It is our job as educators, parents, and community members to work together to help each child identify and develop that giftedness. Then we can teach children to build from their strengths to learn things that are more challenging for them as individuals. It all starts with building strong relationships, not just with the children, but also with each other.
The staff at OHE have a true heart for students and strive to help them see the best in themselves. We are working hard to rebuild community relationships that have waned during the pandemic. We are excited to continue to share with our school families and community members. We have already planned to host several events where we can strengthen those relationships. Our first will be a Community Night in September!
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns you have. I am here to serve the Oak Harbor Elementary Community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Christina Merritt, Principal
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