News Release

Everett Public Schools

May 18, 2011

For more information:

Mary Waggoner, 425-385-4049

Sally Lancaster to be Everett High principal starting in September

Current principal at Sequoia High has increased number of SHS graduates

At the end of this school year, current Everett High School (EHS) Principal Catherine Matthews will

become the district’s Director of District Improvement and On-time Graduation, and Sally Lancaster,

now principal at the district’s alternative high school, Sequoia, will become the principal at EHS.

Matthews’ selection for the district position was announced to school students, staff and parents

earlier this month. The announcement about Lancaster’s move was made to Everett High and

Sequoia staff this afternoon.

“Graduation” seems to be a frequent theme in Lancaster’s career. She began working in Everett in

1988 at Lowell Elementary School, teaching at all grade levels there and also spending time as the

school librarian. She “graduated” in 1997 from elementary school to become a district instructional

technology and library media specialist. In that position, she worked at all grade levels to help instill

technology use into the instructional practices of teachers and to solidify technology as a student

learning tool.

In 2002, Lancaster graduated once again – this time to become assistant principal at Sequoia. Until

2005, she held that position, supervising the Denney Juvenile Justice Center school and launching

the district’s Online High School and Port Gardner K-12 parent partnership program, formerly known

as Homeschool Alternative.

She graduated once more into the principalship position at Sequoia in 2005. “Sally’s guidance and

vision inspired programs that have increased the number of students taking state tests and doing well

on them,” notes Superintendent Gary Cohn. “In the spring of 2007, just one year after being the

school’s principal, a record number of students graduated from Sequoia – a trend that has continued

every year since. The community is fortunate to be able to tap the talents and successful track record

of a stellar, local educational leader to continue the excellent work being done at Everett High

School.”

Cohn notes that Lancaster’s emphasis is on the whole student. “It was Sally who inspired students to

produce the school’s first yearbook and to take pride in producing a school newsletter. Sequoia

students are fully engaged in community and neighborhood projects. Sequoia students are equal

partners in the district’s high school student body leadership who represent the district each year

before legislators in Olympia. She personifies what we expect of our educational leaders – an ability

to connect to students as individuals and inspire each student’s potential for high academic and

personal achievement.”

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Everett Public Schools news release

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Sally Lancaster to be Everett High principal starting in September

Under Lancaster’s leadership, the homeschool families who interact with the Port Gardner program

are full partners in their students’ educational program. While working on a new name for the

program, parents were firm in their belief that “partnership” be a part of the name – to represent the

way the school includes them in learning and to connect to their neighborhood community.

She has been an advocate for quality and accountable online learning as is exemplified in the

district’s Online High School program. In that role, she has testified in Olympia to help legislators

understand what it takes for an online program to be successful.

Lancaster is excited about working with the Everett High community. “I can’t wait to meet with and

interact with students and families at EHS – some of whom have been with us at Sequoia. It is my

goal to support and sustain the rich traditions of quality and success of the district’s ‘School of

Champions’ and to add to those traditions and success over time.

“We are all learners,” she notes. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves to learn from those at Everett High

and share what I’ve learned from experiences at an elementary school and at Sequoia. I enjoy

fostering conversations, respect and civil discourse that make our schools, our community and our

world better places to live and to work – and to leave for the next generation.”

Lancaster recently “graduated” in another way – having completed her superintendent’s certification

program and is now in the final dissertation stage of her doctorate. She is looking forward to yet more

personal and professional graduations.

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