Preparing for the end of summer vacation

Burbank Unified School District principals returned to work on Monday

to get ready for the new school year, which begins Sept. 1. Among

them were Anita Schackmann, the new principal at Luther Middle

School, and Heather Haug, the new assistant principal of discipline

at Burbank High School.

“I’m kind of old, but new,” said Haug, who previously taught

science to Burroughs High School students. “The district is familiar

with me, I’ve worked with a lot of people, but Burbank High School is

brand new. Meeting the staff and the new students will be the best

part of the job.”

Haug began Monday with a walk-through of the school. She also went

over the school’s rules and disaster preparedness procedures.

“I’ve been asking a lot of questions, and getting a lot of

assistance from principals and other assistant principals,” she said.

In 1999, Haug began teaching science courses at Burroughs High

School. After becoming a department chair, Haug decided she enjoyed

the administrative aspects of a career in education.

“I found it was something I really liked”, she said. “I enjoyed

working with the kids in that fashion.”

Schackmann was an assistant principal for Jordan and John Muir

Middle Schools before becoming the principal at Luther Middle School.

Before working in administration, Schackmann was an English and

history teacher at Jordan Middle School.

“My teaching experience lends a good perspective to me as an

administrator,” said Schackmann. “I know the challenges and ways I

could be supportive as an administrator because I’ve experienced the

daily rigors of teaching. It enhances my work as an administrator.”

Schackmann’s been busy making sure the rooms are prepared for

students and teachers to return to them.

“In the case of Luther, where some of the construction is

completed, we have to see if the new classrooms have furniture, and

if the teachers have desks,” Schackmann said “We need to make sure

that the rooms are ready for students.”

Returning principals at other schools are also facing the

challenges of getting ready for a new school year.

Thomas Edison Elementary Principal Laura Flosi is preparing for

teachers to return on Thursday.

“We want to make sure teacher services are prepared,” Flosi said.

She’ll also be looking at test scores, seeing where the school can

improve, and looking at what works for different grades in regards to

curriculum.

“We’re working hard on that,” she said. “We’re feeling ready, we

started planning in June before we left and we’re looking at planning

where we left off.”

Teachers return to school on Thursday and instruction begins Sept.

1.