After 22 years of service as a public school educator, Liberty Bell Jr./Sr. High School Principal Deborah DeKalb has informed the Methow Valley School District of her plan to retire at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year.
Following two years of service as a mental health counselor with Okanogan County Behavioral Healthcare, Deborah began her career with the Methow Valley School District as a guidance counselor in 1996. Deborah served as a guidance counselor for nine years before stepping into her current role as the principal of Liberty Bell Jr./Sr. High School and the Independent Learning Center (ILC).
During her tenure as the principal, Liberty Bell and the ILC have thrived with both, Liberty Bell and the ILC receiving many accolades for it’s academic achievements and social/emotional support systems. A few noteworthy accomplishments in recent years include:
- Liberty Bell has been consistently ranked as one of the top 20 achieving schools in the State of Washington and nationally by US News and World Report.
- Liberty Bell was one of only six school districts in the State of Washington to be placed on the Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll.
- Liberty Bell boasts one of the highest annual average, on-time graduation rates and post-secondary acceptance rates in the State of Washington.
- Liberty Bell has established a comprehensive “Student and Family Support Services Team” focused on providing students and families with the social/emotional support services needed to be successful.
- The ILC is one of only six schools in the State of Washington to receive a “Competency-Based Waiver” from the Washington State Board of Education, allowing staff to engage students in a personalized and real-world approach to teaching and learning.
The list of accomplishments in support of the students and families who reside in the Methow Valley goes on and on… Superintendent Venable states, “This doesn’t happen without a clear vision, strong leadership, and high levels of support. Deborah’s commitment to supporting students, parents and staff, her tireless advocacy in support of public education, and her humility will be missed dearly.”
When asked about her decision, Deborah stated,
It’s been an amazing tenure and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity. I am humbled by the magnitude of the job and I seem to learn something new everyday.
For those interested in participating in the Liberty Bell Jr./Sr. High School interview and selection process, more information will be made available in the fall of the 2018-19 school year.