The Snoqualmie Valley School District has announced several new administrators hired for the 2016-17 school year.

New principals have been selected for Chief Kanim Middle School, North Bend Elementary, Opstad Elementary, and Snoqualmie Elementary Schools: John Norberg at Snoqualmie Elementary; Michelle Trifunovic at Chief Kanim Middle School; Ryan Hill at Opstad Elementary School; and Stephanie Shepherd, North Bend Elementary.

Several assistant principals have also been hired in the school district. They include Valerie Li at Snoqualmie and North Bend Elementary Schools, Katelyn Long at Fall City and Opstad Elementary Schools, Kaaren Kim at Cascade View Elementary and Fall City Elementary Schools, Mark Allen at Chief Kanim Middle School, and Jerry Maher at Mount Si High School.

John Norberg the new principal at Snoqualmie Elementary, recently served at Opstad Elementary as an as administrative intern. He previously taught elementary and middle school students at Washington Virtual Academies in the Omak, Steilacoom, and Franklin Pierce School Districts.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from Washington State University, a master’s degree in teaching from City University, and completed the Principal Certification Program at Seattle Pacific University this spring.

Norberg will replace Kerstin Kramer who has moved to Nevada with her family, where she will serve as principal for the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District.

Chief Kanim Middle School Principal Michelle Trifunovic has served in a variety of educational roles over the past 23 years. In her last position as Issaquah School District’s Executive Director of Middle Schools, she supported and supervised five comprehensive middle schools, and implemented the district’s Positive Behavior programs.

Among her previous roles, she has been the Principal of Edmonds-Woodway High School, Assistant Principal at Bremerton High School, Dean of Students, Activities Director, Spanish and history teacher, and basketball coach. Trifunovic earned superintendent certification, principal certification, and a master’s degree in education from Seattle University, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and history from Gonzaga University.

Trifunovic will replace Principal Kirk Dunckel who is relocating to Idaho, to serve as vice principal at a high school in Coeur d’Alene.

Ryan Hill has been hired to be the Opstad Elementary School Principal. He’s been an educator in Snoqualmie Valley Schools for the past decade.

He came to the district in 2006 to teach science at Mount Si High School. In 2009, he became a technology integration leader and teacher trainer for the district, and last year he served as an administrative intern at both Opstad and Mount Si, while earning principal certification at Seattle Pacific University.

In the past school year, Hill had a dual role, serving as Opstad’s assistant principal and the district’s Instructional Technology Coordinator.

He earned his master’s degree in educational technology from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Central Washington University.

Hill will replace Principal Amy Wright who was selected to be the principal of Timber Ridge Elementary School, when the new school opens in the fall.

After serving as assistant principal at North Bend and Snoqualmie Elementary Schools last year, Stephanie Shepherd has been chosen as North Bend Elementary’s new principal.

Prior to joining Snoqualmie Valley schools, she was an early learning facilitator in the Renton School District, providing leadership support in the development of the district’s early childhood programming.

She also worked at the Puget Sound Educational Services District as a PreK-3rd grade systems coach.

Previously, she worked with the Success for All Foundation for several years, as a consultant and facilitator for school districts in Guam, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and Nevada.

Shepherd began her career teaching grades K to 2 in Pa’auilo, Hawaii.

She has earned a principal’s certificate from Seattle Pacific University, a master’s degree in education technology from the University of Hawaii, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Nevada.

Shepherd will replace Principal Jim Frazier, who was selected to lead Cascade View Elementary next year, while Principal Ray Wilson will transition from Cascade View to serve at Mount Si High School.

Valerie Li has been hired as an assistant principal to be shared between Snoqualmie and North Bend Elementary Schools. She has most recently worked in the Renton School District, as an autism facilitator since 2013 and completed an administrative internship. Previously, she taught preschool in Renton schools, from 2008-13.

Li has also served on several district committees focused on Common Core math standards, assessments, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, early learning, and technology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of California Berkeley, a master’s in education in language and literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a master’s in education in early childhood special education from the University of Washington.

Li will replace Stephanie Shepherd, who will be principal at North Bend Elementary next year.

Katelyn Long has also been hired as elementary school assistant principal to be shared between Fall City and Opstad Elementary Schools. Long recently completed an administrative internship at Voyager Elementary School in Gig Harbor. She has six years of teaching experience in grades 3 to 5 in Peninsula, Bellingham, Clover Park, and Snoqualmie Valley School Districts (teaching at Fall City Elementary). Long earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Washington University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University, and her principal certification from the University of Washington.

Long will replace Ryan Hill, who will be principal at Opstad next fall.

Kaaren Kim will split her duties as assistant principal between Cascade View Elementary and Fall City Elementary Schools. She came to Snoqualmie Valley from the Kent School District, where she was an assistant principal at East Hill Elementary and Crestwood Elementary schools since 2013. Prior to her administrative roles, Kim taught English Language Learners (ELL) for K to 6 grades for three years, and was a classroom teacher for Kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grades for nine years. She earned her principal certification in 2012 from Seattle University; earned a master’s degree in literacy education from Lesley University; and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Washington State University.

Mark Allen has been hired as an assistant principal at Chief Kanim Middle School. Allen had been the assistant principal at Eastmont Junior High School in East Wenatchee since 2011. He also worked at Bellevue Christian School for seven years as a math teacher, administrative intern, ASB advisor, and coach. Allen graduated from Seattle Pacific University, earning a bachelor’s degree in science education and a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Allen will replace Beth Castle who has retired.

Jerry Maher has also been hired as an assistant principal at Mount Si High School, to focus on college and career readiness programs and initiatives. Maher joined the Snoqualmie Valley School District 10 years ago, beginning as a PE/Health teacher at Snoqualmie Middle School in 2006, then transitioning in 2013 to teach PE at Mount Si.

In addition to his teaching role, he was an assistant varsity football coach from 2009 to 14, has been the ASB advisor since 2014, and is currently completing a principal internship.

Maher earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, health and fitness from Washington State University, a master’s degree in intercollegiate athletic leadership from the University of Washington, and National Board Teacher Certification in 2010. He completed his principal certification at Central Washington University in June.

Maher will replace Cindy Wilson, who has retired.

Information about the 2016-17 school year is available on the school district website, www.svsd410.org.

More information will be published in August, including bus routes, by Aug. 8, and school lunch menus in mid-August.