New principal getting ready for school

We’ve seen kids, parents, and teachers gearing up for the new school year, but what about school administrators?

As we inch closer to the start of the school year, one school leader is preparing for a new challenge. Dr. Rebecca Ladner is the new principal at West Wortham Elementary and Middle School in Saucier. As a new addition to the school district, she’s excited to kick off the new school year. “Being new to the community and new to the school adds to the excitement, of course. I’m joining a wonderful community. The parents and the students, I can’t wait to meet all of them.”

Ladner is a native of the Gulf Coast. She grew up in Long Beach. She has previous experience as a teacher in Gulfport and an administrator in the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District and says the move to the Harrison County School District has gone well. “They’ve really covered all of the areas. Being new to the district and learning the district, the district procedures and policies has been a smooth transition.”

West Wortham seventh grade math teacher Ashleigh Syverson is looking forward to seeing how Ladner and the school leadership move the school forward. “Our administration team is essentially new. We only have one returning assistant principal. It’s exciting to think that they’re going to have the chance to sit down, they’re going to have different backgrounds, different experiences, different levels of training, to see what they can do to help lead us.”

As a former teacher, Ladner plans to collaborate with her teachers to provide the best education possible for students. “It makes you very open to listen and to get their input because you know how valuable that is and they’re the ones that are directly with the student.”

And she says her passion for education will help lead the West Wortham learning community. “I have a passion for children, a passion for leadership. I have a passion for excellence. I hope to continue that here with the team at West Wortham.”