Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, announced today that she has Sue Kleitsch as the next principal of Crown Hill's Whitman Middle School.

Ms. Kleitsch joined the Whitman family in 1997 and has served as the assistant principal at Whitman for the past 10 years.

Prior to working with middle school students and their families, she taught vocationally approved classes at Marshall Alternative High School. She has her Masters in Education from Seattle University and her Bachelor of Arts from Central Washington University.

"Ms. Kleitsch has demonstrated strength both as an instructional leader and a manager of a diverse and vibrant middle school," Enfield said in the announcement.

Kleitsch replaces Michael Starosky who is the new Consulting Principal in the Human Resources department of Seattle Public Schools, where he will serve as a peer coach to principals.

Candidates for the Whitman principalship were selected from our principal applicant pool and Whitman community members were part of the interview team. Enfield said the Assistant Principal position will be filled as soon as possible.

"I know the Whitman community joins me in welcoming Ms. Kleitsch to her new role," Enfield said. "Ms. Kleitsch plans to continue Whitman’s focus on ALL students learning and achieving. I could not agree more and I look forward to seeing you all back in school on September 7."