Geary USD 475 has selected Jennifer Black to serve as the new principal at Washington

Elementary School, effective Aug. 1. She currently holds the position of Assistant Principal at Ware Elementary School.

Black commented on her desire to become the principal at Washington Elementary, by noting she used to work at Lincoln Elementary. “And I always thought Washington was a very cool school, probably because of its historic part of the building. I love that it was built in 1928, and also because of the community it serves.”

Black has been in the school district for 18 years.  She served as the Assistant Principal at Ware Elementary School for six years. Prior to that position she was the Special Education Coordinator and Assistant to the Principal at Ware Elementary. Her relationship with USD 475 began in 1992 when she began student teaching at Eisenhower and Fort Riley Elementary.

She will fill the position at Washington Elementary formerly held by Lorraine Walker, who passed away unexpectedly this past spring.  Black stated, “One of the things that I am very respectful of is the fact that we need to pay homage to Lorraine and the legacy she left. She did an amazing job with the school and with the staff, and she loved her children. And we will make sure that we memorialize her somehow in the coming school year.”

Black holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Kansas State University. She has also been a part of the Kansas State University Teacher Leadership Academy.