New ICS Lower School and Upper School Principals Chosen

Last year the ICS Board approved a restructuring plan for Immanuel Christian School. The goal was to consolidate the current three Team Leader positions and Instructional Supervisor position together with a variety of administrative responsibilities into two full-time principal positions. The Lower School Principal will oversee the instructional program for grades K to 4, and the Upper School Principal will oversee grades 5 to 8.

These two new positions were created to provide daily management of the instructional program at all levels, supporting teachers with continual communication, training and mentoring. The new principals will be responsible for curriculum coordination, supervision of instruction, and the on-going process of recruiting, attracting, and hiring the best faculty available for the work of Christian education.

Four months ago, at the direction the ICS Board, the administration formed a Search Committee to conduct a national search for the two new principals. The Search Committee brought together the perspectives of ICS administrators, staff, faculty, parents and grandparents. The job openings were advertised locally and nationally, which resulted in communication with 23 applicants from 12 states and one applicant from outside the U.S.

The Search Committee developed position descriptions, basic qualifications, and a set of essay questions to be used with candidates who were selected for further consideration. After reviewing résumés and essay responses, the search was narrowed to four final candidates, two internal and two external to ICS.

Multiple teams conducted interviews with each of the final candidates. These interviews included participation by current faculty from the lower and upper school teams. After completion of all final interviews, and after considerable discussion and prayer, the Search Committee reached unanimous consensus that the two internal candidates from ICS are best suited to lead the ICS instructional program next year.

It is our privilege to announce the appointment of Eleane McCoy for Lower School Principal and Erin Smith for Upper School Principal, beginning in July. While much planning and preparation will start immediately as they complete their current duties, the official start of their new positions will begin this summer.

Eleane McCoy has served at Immanuel Christian School for almost 18 years. She has taught Kindergarten, First, Second and Fourth Grade, and helped found the Discovery Program at ICS providing educational therapy for students with learning difficulties. For the past nine years, Eleane has served as the Primary Team Leader for grades K to 2. She completed her undergraduate degree in education, a master’s degree in early childhood education, and is a 2015 doctoral candidate in Christian Education and Leadership at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Erin Smith has served at Immanuel Christian School for close to ten years. She taught 4th grade for eight years, and joined the middle school team this year as a sixth grade teacher. She recently spent a year overseas serving in the World Race International Mission. Erin has also filled a number of roles at ICS in Extended Care, on the Office staff, and as a girl’s basketball and lacrosse coach. She completed her undergraduate degree in education and is a 2015 Master of Education candidate in Administration and Supervision at the University of Virginia.

Both of these individuals are highly skilled educational leaders with deep commitment to the mission and vision of ICS. They are seasoned professionals with hands-on experience in observing, evaluating and mentoring professional educators in their ongoing development. This search process has underscored once again that God continues to provide His choice servants for the work of Christian education at ICS. Please join us in thanking God for His clear leading as we welcome Eleane McCoy and Erin Smith to their new leadership positions this year.

This blog post was written by Stephen Danish, Head of School.