Amanda Petters has been working toward this moment for 16 years. Now, she will lead a school of her own. Petters has been named the new principal of Rangeland Elementary School after 15 years as an assistant principal at three schools and one year as a principal intern.
“We could not have selected a principal more highly qualified to lead Rangeland,” said Dr. Nate Meyer, assistant superintendent of AIS. “The AIS Office has had the privilege of working side by side with Dr. Petters for last few years, and she has demonstrated an outstanding ability to connect with staff and students and organize a school for continued improvement.”
Petters has spent the past year as a principal intern at The Academy @Shawnee Middle and Frayser Elementary Schools but her training to become a school leader has been much more extensive. She is also a graduate of the Breakthrough Leaders Program and the Equity Leadership Cadre program.
“The internship provided me an additional opportunity to learn from tenacious leaders, build on my operational knowledge, and develop strategies to build a strong community through shared leadership,” Petters said. “I am honored to have been selected to lead the students and staff at Rangeland Elementary! I am excited to work collaboratively with staff and families to create a strong culture of trust where our children will thrive.”
Petters began her career in Jefferson County Public Schools in 2001 as an English Language Arts teacher at Farnsley Middle School. She was an instructional coach for a year before beginning her run as an assistant principal at Knight Middle, Conway Middle and Maupin Elementary Schools. Petters received bachelor’s degrees in English and Secondary Education at Indiana University Southeast before getting a master’s degree and Rank 1 certificate from the same school. She also earned a doctorate from the University of Louisville and received a superintendent license last year.
Petters says she’s ready to be a devoted leader who’s not afraid to be disruptive for the students at Rangeland.
“As the new principal at Rangeland, I am committed to building a caring community where students are engaged in learning experiences that ignite intellectual curiosity, compassion, and confidence to become leaders in their lives and our community,” she said.
Petters will start her new job July 1.
By Mark Hebert