New principal takes helm at Eagle Valley

When Lee Conley came to Carson City in 1996 to teach physical education, he figured he would be here a year or two then return to Wyoming where he was born and raised.

Instead, after he finished as a P.E. teacher at Mark Twain and Empire elementary schools, he went on to teach fourth grade for three years and fifth grade for two years at Mark Twain.

He then went on to serve three years as the vice principal at Empire Elementary School and the last five years as principal of Seeliger.

He also met and married his wife, Victoria, with whom he celebrated his 10-year anniversary on Aug. 3.

"This district has been so good to me and I've enjoyed it so much, I don't think I'll ever leave this area," he said.

A new change is in store for Conley as well. After working 15 years at the elementary school level, he will take over this year as principal of Eagle Valley Middle School.

He will replace Chris Butson, who was selected to be the English-as-a-second-language director for the school district. Paula Zona will replace him at Seeliger.

Although his entire career has been in elementary schools, he said he's ready to make the transition to the upper grades.

"I'm not nervous about working with the kids because kids are kids," he said. "I'm actually kind of excited."

He concedes middle school "can be such a stinkin' awkward age," but said it also is the time when students start to find their individuality.

"It's a time when they can really build their confidence and start zeroing in on their strengths," he said. "It's when their personalities really start coming out more, and I'm looking forward to being able to guide them in a proactive fashion."

He has an advantage as well in that he has worked at two of the three elementary schools that feed into Eagle Valley.

"For the next five years, I am going to know a lot of kids who are coming into the school," he said. "I know I have a lot of good parents and kiddos."

As principal of Seeliger, he was known for a playful, sometimes goofy, demeanor. He calls it, "fun in a structured manner."

He doesn't plan to change much.

"The kids know very clearly that if you follow the rules and are being accountable, I can be a fun administrator," he said. "Once they choose to do something they know is wrong, they know I'm going to be firm with them and serious. It's because I care. I'm not your buddy, I'm your principal."

One of his main objectives as principal will be to help the school make adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind federal guidelines.

A $2 million federal grant for the district will help him institute programs to create more uniformity in instruction at the school. But the real key, he said, will be the people.

"The grant will help us establish guidelines, but the bottom line is it's up to us as a staff to get the kids there," he said. "I think that's definitely something we can accomplish here."