WCSD Board Approves New Administration Hires

The Waukee Community School District (WCSD) Board of Education approved the recommendation to hire Dr. Gregory Carenza as the new Walnut Hills Elementary School principal and appoint Allison Salow as the Radiant Elementary School principal at the May 29 board meeting.

Carenza will be replacing the current principal at Walnut Hills, Lyndsay Marron, who accepted a new position, assistant director of student services, within the district earlier this month. Salow is currently serving as assistant principal of Walnut Hills and Shuler Elementary School. Carenza and Marron will officially begin their new duties on July 1, 2018.

Salow will officially begin her new duties on July 1, 2019. The district will open its ninth elementary school, Radiant in the fall of 2019. Salow will continue to serve Shuler and Walnut Hills as their assistant principal through the 2018-19 school year.

“I am thrilled and honored to have the tremendous opportunity to join teachers, families, and students as we open the newest elementary building, Radiant. I look forward to utilizing my leadership experiences to continue serving the Waukee Community School District in this capacity,” Salow said.

Prior to joining Waukee Community School District, she spent 16 years working for Des Moines Public Schools in a variety of positions including teacher, literacy leader, instructional coach and induction coach. Salow earned her Master of Arts from Viterbo University in 2016.

Carenza is currently the director of teaching and learning at Dallas Center-Grimes CSD and brings with him 20 years of education experience.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with students, their families, teachers and staff to engage in high levels of learning,” Carenza said. “Joining the team at Waukee Community School District, more specifically Walnut Hills, is exciting! I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity and the chance to build relationships.”

Carenza started his career in 1998 as a kindergarten teacher in Ankeny Community School District. In 2002, he earned his Master of Science from Iowa State University. From 2006-2016 he was an elementary principal at Urbandale Community School District. During that time he also earned his Educational Specialist degree in 2008 and Doctorate of Education in 2011.

Carenza is filling a position left vacant after the WCSD Board of Education approved the recommendation to appoint Marron to assistant director of student services on May 14. The primary role of the new position is to support preschool programming across the district, as well as support the increased growth in special education and 504 plans. Due to increased preschool growth, classrooms are now housed in four buildings. There are currently 13 preschool classrooms in the district serving approximately 200 students ages 3-4.

“Since becoming an administrator in Waukee Schools, I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience in working with preschool, special education, 504 plans and homelessness,” Marron said. “My new role with student services will allow me to work in all four areas at the district level.”

During her 11 years at WCSD, Marron has served the district as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Marron earned her Master of Science from Drake University in 2008.