School News Network: She shoots for attendance, achievement, and attitude

New Lee Middle and High School Principal Candy VanBuskirk. (School News Network)

Candy VanBuskirk is the new Lee Middle and High School principal. SNN gets to know her in this edition of Meet Your Principal.

Other positions you have held in education:

Principal at Michigan City High School, Indiana
Assistant Principal at New Prairie High School, Indiana
Biology and chemistry teacher, New Buffalo High School
Head women’s basketball coach, Roberts Wesleyan College, New York
Head women’s basketball coach, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
Assistant women’s basketball coach at Miami University, Ohio

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in biology from Bowling Green State University, where she was a team co-captain in basketball
Master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University
Master’s degree in science education from the University of Dayton
Currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Indiana State University

Principal Candy VanBuskirk with children Dawson and Sela, and husband, Todd

Spouse/children: husband, Todd; children Dawson and Sela

Hobbies/Interests: Running and reading

What kind of kid were you at the age of students at this new school? I was an athlete, and all I wanted to do was play sports. My personality has always been fun, engaging and adventurous.

The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… You have never walked in (their) shoes.

If I could go back to school, I would go to… my senior year in high school, because I could have done more.

If you walked into your new school building to theme music every day, what would the song be? “We are the Champions” by Queen

Three goals for the school year: Attendance, Achievement and Attitude.

Late bloomer: VanBuskirk said she didn’t get into education until her senior year in college.

“I was going on to medical school; I was a bio/chem major and had a conversation with my college basketball coach, who encouraged me to go into education. Right out of college I was a college basketball coach, got engaged and got married, and went on to get my master’s in education and then taught high school.

“When my children started getting into school age, I went back into high school coaching and teaching, and taught high school for six years before I went into administration.”