Jefferson Intermediate School Principal Hired As Assistant Superintendent

Principal Kim Harris will return to St. Charles School District Central Office next year as the new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

The St. Charles Board of Education approved the hire in a closed session meeting Thursday.

The position became available because the board in October of schools.

This is Harris' third year as principal of Jefferson Intermediate School.

Harris previously worked for one year as Coordinator of Student Services as a member of the administration team. She has also worked as a teacher at and .

Harris took over as principal at Jefferson soon after the district reorganized into a different model for middle schools. All students in 5th and 6th grades attend Jefferson and all students in 7th and 8th grades attend Hardin Middle School.

In her time as principal at Jefferson, Harris put into place several practices to make the transition into a "middle school environment" a little easier for fifth grade students moving from elementary school. Students met together before class began for an all-school assembly for announcements, rule reminders and to offer a sense of unity.

In 2010, the school was renamed Jefferson Intermediate School, to better signify that it wasn't quite a middle school environment.

Superintendent Randy Charles said the board chose to hire Harris for the Human Resources position because she's been so successful in the different jobs she's had in the district.

"It's always hard to replace someone that does such a good job," he said. "I have no doubt we'll attract a lot of good candidates for that position, because there's so much good going on."

Charles said Harris has taken a team approach to leadership, and there are many people who will stay at Jefferson to continue her work.

"We're very optimistic we'll find another quality person," he said.