New school year, new leadership

Published Aug. 21, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --

Department of Defense Education Activity students will soon head back to school at one of the four locations that serve the Spangdahlem community.

All four schools will have a new leader at the helm, and each has their own priorities and goals for the upcoming school year.

Dr. Angelique Lamonski, Spangdahlem Elementary School principal

Lamonski comes from Wetzel Elementary School in Baumholder, Germany.

Priorities: Expectations for excellence for all and to provide great customer service to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of every child and family.

"I am walking into a great environment with a wonderful staff," Lamonski said. "They have worked very hard, and there is an excitement, enthusiasm and a good feel when you walk in the building. There are people who truly do care about the children and the families here at Spangdahlem, and they care about their job."

Lamonski said she has an open door policy for any concern that parents or a student might have. She also said she understands issues do come up during the year and stressed that they must be reported to the staff so it may be resolved.

"I am very excited to be here," she said. "It has been wonderful so far coming here to this community. I was able to come in at the end of last year and meet students, families and be around the base. So coming back at the start of the school year, I'm just really excited and it's a great feeling."

Dr. Julio Gonzalez, Bitburg Elementary School principal

Gonzalez comes from Vicenza Middle School, Italy.

Priorities: Making sure students meet the standards of DoDEA; character education for students; and a safe and nurturing environment.

"I have two phrases I live by," Gonzalez said. "'Monitor and adjust' - we just stay better as a system if we monitor and adjust. The second one is 'the best is yet to come.' I always believe there is something better out there, and it has been my philosophy that I have always lived by my entire life."

Gonzalez said he is available anytime to address any concerns parents or students may have and strongly believes that two-way communication is key to a successful year.

"Join me, let's have fun and do the best we can to make it a great year," he said. "I look forward to meeting the kids and working with them."

Greg Bull, Spangdahlem Middle School principal

Bull comes from Kaiserslautern Middle School and has been in the education profession since 2001.

Priorities: Instructional leadership; increased student achievement; skill development plus human connectivity and social and emotional growth.

"I am most excited about becoming a high performance school, both perceptions inside and outside the school community," Bull said.

Bull said he has a 365-day feedback policy to improve anything he can do better or anything the school can do to improve.

"I have high expectations for all, students, teachers and community and we all need to work together," he said. "I maintain those expectations, and I work to increase involvement. I am excited to be a part of this community and to do what we need to do for our students."

Jennifer L. Remoy, Bitburg Middle High School principal

Remoy comes from Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany.

Priorities: Share leadership by empowering the school community with a voice; using data to drive instruction; focus on students; 21st century skills and a safe and welcoming school for both students and parents.

"The most exciting thing about starting a new school year is watching students learn, seeing those 'light bulb moments' and ensuring we never put a lid on that learning so they can continue to learn to their highest potential," Remoy said.

Remoy stressed that she also has an open door policy that parents and students are always welcomed to come in and talk if they have concerns or issues.

"We want to meet each student where they are and ensure they receive an education that is very rigorous, has high expectations, and we don't put a ceiling on any student's learning," she said. "Then when students are having difficulty with something, we take that student and differentiate for them - re-teaching so they understand the concept, which is what mastery is."

The four schools will host an open forum Aug. 27th from 4-5 p.m. at the Spangdahlem Middle School auditorium. The community is invited to learn more about the schools, meet the Eifel Community new administration team and an opportunity to ask questions and hear from the Kaiserslautern superintendent Dr. Dell McMullen.