Dear Palouse Prairie School Families, Friends, and Community,
I am writing today to share the news that Jeneille Branen, our school’s Executive Director, has let our Board know that she plans to step down from her leadership role at the end of this school year.
Jeneille has been a fundamental part of Palouse Prairie since its very inception. As a founding teacher, she helped to create our school’s remarkable culture of joy and rigor. Over the last seven years as Executive Director, she has worked tirelessly and fearlessly to build an exemplary staff team, a community of empathetic and service-focused learners, and a very high performing school that is regarded as a national model. Under her leadership, we have secured our own land, built a new school building, and weathered a pandemic. Anyone who has worked with this remarkable leader can attest to her hard work, thoughtfulness, and compassion.
There is much more to say – and much more will be said! – about Jeneille. But for now, I’d like to turn things over to her. Here is her letter to the PPCS Community.
Dear PPCS Families:
It is with tremendous respect for the PPCS community I write to share that I have decided not to return as Executive Director next year. PPCS has been a part of my heart and soul for so many years and I feel so honored to have watched our teachers and students discover so much about themselves. Every parent, student, staff member and board member has shaped me to value different perspectives, strengthen my own character, push me in my profession, and help me grow and value this incredible model of education. The experience has forever changed me. It has also profoundly changed my family, as I am a lucky PPCS parent who has witnessed the change in my two daughters that attended PPCS for their K-8 education. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve you and your children, grapple together to improve the learning and environment, and share joys and frustrations. Our struggles and successes made this job so important and meaningful.
I am confident that many years of hard work with our team have laid the foundation for a bright future at PPCS. PPCS is lucky to have dedicated and brilliant educators, staff and board members who exist to serve your children. I am so incredibly grateful to have had the honor to serve alongside them in the most important work of our lives.
I am looking forward to supporting the students, staff and school the rest of this school year! In the upcoming years, I will be rooting on the sidelines as the PPCS story continues to unfold, knowing it will be nothing short of transformative and magical.
With so much love and gratitude,
Jeneille Branen
PPCS Executive Director
What is next?
We will be hiring for a school director in the coming months and will be seeking PPCS community input to inform that search. Jeneille will work closely with us this summer and beyond to ensure a smooth and supportive transition to new leadership. We are excited about the opportunity to build on the incredibly strong foundation she has established at Palouse Prairie.
Please stay tuned for more information – and feel free to contact me at jbearman@palouseprairieschool.org with any questions.
In CREW –
Jessica Bearman
PPCS Board Chair
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