School board approves two new principals

The Churchill County School Board approved at their special board meeting Feb. 28 the hiring of two principals effective July 1.

Brad Barton will lead E.C. Best Elementary School and Victor Schoenfeldt has been selected as the new principal of Churchill County Middle School.

Barton is currently the dean of students and vice principal at CCMS. He started with the district in 2004 teaching English as a second language at Churchill County High School.

Superintendent Derild Parsons said in his recommendation that he has known Barton a long time and has seen him work his way through the district. He said that Barton understands the district’s strategic plan. Parsons also approved of the vision Barton has for the future of ECB.

“Mr. Barton demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful principal at E.C. Best and has a vision for the future of the school,” Parsons said. “He will be a great addition as the next instructional leader at E.C. Best.”

Barton said he knows current ECB Principal Keith Boone may be a tough act to follow. Boone, who was first hired by Churchill County in 1997, has announced his retirement at the end of the school year.

“(Boone's) a big personality in Fallon altogether. Our kids grew up together,” Barton said. “I'm excited to step in his role and get to know that staff over there and build trust with them. I'm really looking forward. I'm excited.”

Barton attended the University of Utah with a major in sociology and criminology and a minor in Spanish. He earned his master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Phoenix.

Schoenfeldt added he’s excited to start a new chapter at CCMS after spending almost 20 years as the principal of Sierra Nevada Academy Charter School in Reno. He sees absenteeism, proficiency and behavioral issues as key areas to target, but Schoenfeldt said he will also be looking for ways to incentivize the students and have fun.

“I'm very confident to go in and get some tough love going, but also just enjoy where we are,” Schoenfeldt said. “They're adolescents and there's no other age group like that. It's not little kids and it's not high school.”

In his recommendation, Parsons noted Schoenfeldt's experience with academic performance, student growth measures, working with at-risk students, curriculum, assessments and creating a multi-tiered system of support.

“Mr. Shoenfeldt is new to our district, but he is committed to learning about and supporting our strategic plan and providing leadership and support,” Parsons said. “I firmly believe he has the knowledge, abilities and skills to be a great instructional leader at CCMS and is an outstanding addition to our district.”

Schoenfeldt earned his bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University with a major in marketing and a minor in professional golf management. After graduating from NMSU, he moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he served as a golf professional for a number of years.

Schoenfeldt earned his master’s degree from Gonzaga University in Initial Teaching. He landed his first teaching job in Phoenix and stayed there for four years before returning to Reno. He obtained his administrative credential from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006.