NEW PALESTINE — Thanks to a retirement at the corporate offices in the Southern Hancock school district, major changes are coming in the administration at New Palestine Elementary School.
Katy Eastes, who has been the principal at New Palestine Elementary for the past six years, has been named the new director of student services for the district. Eastes replaces Marcia Piercy, who is retiring at the end of June. Kayleigh Fosnow has been promoted from assistant principal to principal; and Nik Giant, a kindergarten teacher at NPE, has been named to replace Fosnow as the assistant principal.
Eastes, who started as a teacher with the district, said she is honored to take on a new, larger role.
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“In my new role as the director of student services, I am excited to be the champion and advocate for all of our children across the district,” Eastes said.
Eastes said Piercy has been a great mentor and she’s learned from her about professionalism, leadership and meeting the needs of all students.
“The biggest challenge in my new role will be trying to fill her shoes,” Eastes said.
Eastes has spent plenty of time working with Piercy over the past several months in digital meetings and has worked hard to soak in as much knowledge from her as possible, Eastes said.
While Eastes is looking forward to her new job, she’s going to miss being the principal at NPE.
“Leaving the students, families and staff was not an easy decision,” Eastes said. “I have a deep love of the children I’ve served over the years as a teacher, dean of students, and then building principal.”
She was also thrilled to learn her assistant will now be the new principal at her old school.
“She is an amazing leader who loves our community,” Eastes said of Fosnow.
With Fosnow and Giant at the helm, the students of NPE will be in good hands, Eastes said.
“I feel so privileged to be the next principal of New Palestine Elementary,” Fosnow said. “When I began my career in Southern Hancock, I immediately felt a sense of happiness and belonging.”
Working alongside Eastes the past two years has prepared her to make an easy transition for the staff and students, Fosnow said.
She’s looking forward to continuing to strengthen the relationships she already has with students, staff and district families.
“I am deeply committed to ensuring that students are given every opportunity to meet both their academic and social-emotional needs while enrolled at NPE,” Fosnow said.
Giant, who steps up from the classroom to an administrative role as an assistant principal, feels enthusiasm and excitement about stepping into the role.
“I am truly honored to accept this new position, and I look forward to assisting Mrs. Fosnow in making NPE a special place for years to come,” Giant said. “The chance to help lead the best school community in the business is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Giant noted the staff, students and families are amazing to work with and that he feels “very blessed” to now support them as a school leader.
