July/September 2015

“Students, families and
community come first.
I work very hard to be
visible and approachable.”
Michael started his professional career teaching Kindergarten
at E.C. Nash Elementary School from 1995-2006.“I began
my career in education as a Kindergarten Teacher at E.C.
Nash Elementary School. As a teacher, I found extreme
joy in helping students develop the skills and passion to be
a life-long learner and most importantly a life-long reader.
There is no greater feeling than when a child learns to read.
I have always said that reading is most complex thing we
will ever learn to do and we accomplish that by the age of
eight.” Michael states.He then became a Reading Intervention
Teacher at L.M. Prince Elementary School 2006-2007
which led him to the role of Instructional Support Assistant
(Assistant Principal) at L.M. Prince Elementary School from
2006-2008. “As an educator I have always prided myself
on making decisions based on what is best for children. “
Michael says.
Michael became the Assistant Principal at Coronado K-8
2008-2011 and found his home as Principalof Lulu Walker
Elementary School from 2011-Present. “As a principal, I want
my staff to know that I am their biggest supporter. I feel my
main job for teachers is to provide them all the tools, time
and resources necessary to do the job that god put them
on this earth for and that is to positively impact the lives of
children.” Michael says with pride.
“The one thing I want my students, families and community
to know is that the reason I am here is for them. My door is
always open and I am never too involved in a task that can’t
wait. Students, families and community come first. I work
very hard to be visible and approachable. I visit classrooms
multiple times a day. I am outside at student drop-off and
pick-up every day. This allows my parents who work and
cannot visit school frequently to have easy access to me and
share any concerns, ask questions or offer praise. I do not
want school to be like it was for me when I was a child. I
struggled to learn to read and I did not like school at all. The
principal was just a man you went to when you got in trouble.
I do not remember seeing a principal around campus,
playing with, helping or talking with children.” says Principal
McConnell.
Michael has a beautiful wife, Marisa, who teaches first grade
at Mesa Verde Elementary School. Together, they have two
sons who have grown up to be wonderful young men. Colby
is 21 and works for Wells Fargo and Cadden is 23 and is
going to be completing a 5+ year enlistment in the US Army
in the next couple of months. “Marisa and I have been
married for 12 years (13 in October) we met at E.C. Nash
Elementary School where we taught Kindergarten together
for 7 years.” He says.
One of his recent endeavors that he is most proud
of is joining the Ben’s Bells Board of Directors.
“I am honored to work with a group of people
whose sole purpose is to inspire, educate,
and motivate people to realize the impact
of intentional kindness, and to empower
individuals to act accordingly. I am
1/4 of a group of Amphi Principals
who are known as the Kindness
Crusaders; I am Captain Kind, my
fellow Crusaders are Bro Kind,
Harmony Kind and Brainy Kind.
We are a group of principals who
believe in the power of kindness.
We practice and teach kindness
in our schools. We visit schools,
hospitals and various locations
around the community spreading
kindness and encouraging people to
be kind. “
Photos by David Clark
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