Hannah Hartman will serve as the principal of Columbia River Gorge Elementary School starting on July 1, 2023. Hartman will take over from Heather Kassel, who has served as the interim principal for the last year, and announced in May that she was stepping down from that role for family reasons. The Washougal School Board approved the selection of Hartman as the new Columbia River Gorge Elementary School principal at their June 20, 2023 board meeting.
Hartman has worked for the past three years as an associate principal in Camas School District. Her previous experiences include teaching in elementary schools at a variety of levels for more than ten years, and working as an elementary school principal for four years.
Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton said, “When we asked CRGE parents for their priorities in the next school principal, they asked us to look for an experienced leader with the skills to continue the great work happening in their school. Hannah stood out for her commitment to serving students and their families by fostering a strong partnership between staff and the families they serve. Hannah will be an excellent leader and can build on the strengths of the CRGE school community.”
Hartman said, “I am honored to join the amazing team at Columbia River Gorge Elementary. I am committed to building strong relationships, empowering students, and supporting all students to rise.” Hartman has a global perspective on education, having taught and led schools in England, China, Poland, Nigeria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Canada. She added, “I believe it is our job to make learning fun and to prepare students to be successful and positive contributors in our world. It is an exciting time to be a River Otter!”
Columbia River Gorge Elementary parent Katie Baker said, “It was my privilege to serve on the team assembled to find the right fit for the next principal of CRGE. I think that Hannah will be a great addition to our school because she has a strong understanding of evidence-based learning techniques as well as a heart for community.” Baker added, “She has experience creating strong community in diverse settings with a focus on education for every child. This will aid her in improving the educational outcomes for students, while also working to create a sense of belonging for every family at our school.”
Hartman brings extensive experience working with school systems to create positive outcomes for all students, including Professional Learning Communities, Understanding by Design, standards based reporting, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support. Hartman has an undergraduate degree and Masters in Education from Portland State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University.
