Incoming principal emerges in midst of a pandemic

LaNisha Paddock to make significant impact at Park

LaNisha Paddock selected to become the next principal for Park. According to Paddock, she is looking forward to building relationships with the community.

LaNisha Paddock selected to become the next principal for Park. According to Paddock, she is looking forward to building relationships with the community.

Aisha Hersi

Spending many years in the education field herself, incoming principal for the 2021-2022 school year LaNisha Paddock said she is willing to become a new voice for the community. 

“One thing that drew me is the intersection of equity and instructional leadership here at Park,” Paddock said. “The core values really spoke to me as a person with the equity work that you all are doing.” 

According to Superintendent Astein Osei, Paddock’s time in the education field will prove beneficial at Park. 

“It says to me that to work in education for this long, she has a true care and passion for students and for learning as well,” Osei said. 

Paddock said her understanding nature with students ultimately shaped her into the leader she is today.  

“I am most looking forward to building relationships with the students, staff and community. I am very relational — figuring out what the community really wants and needs from a leader,” Paddock said. 

 Osei said Paddock is a very strong and instructional person.

“She’s the type of leader that’s gonna be really mindful of the things that we’re doing to help students learn and achieve success,” Osei said. 

She spent this entire year leading a school, she knows what it’s like and she learned from that experience.

— Astein Osei

Osei also said Paddock will take on this role by strongly upholding the academic success of students.  

“She’ll help us develop better systems and strategies to ensure that all students are being challenged academically, and all students are finding success academically as well,” Osei said. 

According to Paddock, she will take action to ensure a successful school year, and also develop new methods to strengthen students and bring the community together. 

“Relationships are the foundation to really having an excellent experience in high school and beyond,” Paddock said. “We always start with that foundational piece of connecting with each other. There’s value in being connected and developing those relationships since it’s more important now than ever.”