Adrian School Board Considering Callie Yatzek as Prairie Elementary Administrator

ADRIANO — With retirement approaching, the Adriano Public Schools Board of Education is considering a candidate to be Prairie Elementary Schoolnext administrator.

Callie Yatzek, an Adrian teacher with 14 years of experience, will go before the board for approval at its next meeting to become Prairie Elementary’s new dean of students.

An interview committee recommended Yatzek for the administrator position.

The school board will consider its approval at its meeting which is rescheduled for 6pm on May 20 at Adrian High School. The May 13 board meeting was canceled “due to the spacing of board meetings due to the (Memorial Day) holiday,” the district said.

If approved by the board, Yatzek will assume the role of administrator for the 2024-25 year, succeeding principal Carl Lewandowski, who will retire at the end of this school year. Lewandowski’s retirement notice was approved by the school board at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Prairie Elementary, with about 260 students in Young 5 through fifth grade, is one of the main reasons Yatzek’s proposed title will be “dean of students” and not “principal,” Superintendent Nate Parker said.

“Essentially, a dean of students will still be the leader of the building,” Parker said. “Ultimately, the (job title) is due to the volume of students and staff in the building. She will still lead the building and do everything a building principal would normally do.”

Alexander Elementary School, by comparison, averages at least 370 students, Parker said, while Prairie has a much smaller enrollment and fewer staff. Lincoln Elementary School enrolls 350 students in Young 5 through fifth grade and Michener Elementary averages 275-300 students, according to www.adrianmaples.org.

Yatzek is currently a third-grade teacher in Prairie and has been with the district for 14 years. She has served on numerous leadership teams and committees, such as the Positive Behavior and Leadership Building Intervention and Support Team, school improvement committees, and district curriculum committees.

She lives in Lenawee County with her husband, Dan, and their three children who attend Adrian public schools.

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During the interview process, Yatzek “articulated a clear and compelling vision for the future of Prairie Elementary,” Parker said in a press release.

“His strategic leadership approach and dedication to fostering a thriving school environment stood out,” he said.

School board trustee Anna Solis-Gautz, who served on the interview committee, described Yatzek as an enthusiastic and experienced educator “who will integrate seamlessly as Prairie’s new administrator and provide strong leadership.”

– Contact reporter Brad Heineman at bheineman@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: twitter.com/LenaweeHeineman.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Callie Yatzek recommended for administrator role at Prairie Elementary