Candy VanBuskirk is the new Lee Middle and High School principal. SNN gets to know her in this edition of Meet Your Principal.
Other positions you have held in education:
- Principal at Michigan City High School, Indiana
- Assistant Principal at New Prairie High School, Indiana
- Biology and chemistry teacher, New Buffalo High School
- Head women’s basketball coach, Roberts Wesleyan College, New York
- Head women’s basketball coach, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
- Assistant women’s basketball coach at Miami University, Ohio
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology from Bowling Green State University, where she was a team co-captain in basketball
- Master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University
- Master’s degree in science education from the University of Dayton
- Currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Indiana State University
Spouse/children: husband, Todd; children Dawson and Sela
Hobbies/Interests: Running and reading
What kind of kid were you at the age of students at this new school? I was an athlete, and all I wanted to do was play sports. My personality has always been fun, engaging and adventurous.
The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… You have never walked in (their) shoes.
If I could go back to school, I would go to… my senior year in high school, because I could have done more.
If you walked into your new school building to theme music every day, what would the song be? “We are the Champions” by Queen
Three goals for the school year: Attendance, Achievement and Attitude.
Late bloomer: VanBuskirk said she didn’t get into education until her senior year in college.
“I was going on to medical school; I was a bio/chem major and had a conversation with my college basketball coach, who encouraged me to go into education. Right out of college I was a college basketball coach, got engaged and got married, and went on to get my master’s in education and then taught high school.
“When my children started getting into school age, I went back into high school coaching and teaching, and taught high school for six years before I went into administration.”
