Dianna Zink will change positions at the beginning of the next school year when she takes the helm as Leonard Elementary School’s new principal.
‘It is just delightful,? said Zink on her first impression of her new home. ‘You walk in and it is such a warm environment. You can feel the energy of the people and the love.?
Zink’s served as director of the Early Childcare Center for Oxford for the past 17 years, but had a goal to become a principal one day.
‘This has always been part of my goal,? she said. ‘For financial reasons it has always been put by the wayside, but I am able to go for it and I am very excited about it.?
She is excited to be a part of Leonard’s community and continue their success.
‘They are a blue ribbon school. They have got it,? she said. ‘I just want to sustain the quality that is already there. I just want to be part of the team.?
Zink has already met some of the parents and will meet more during the end of year events to give herself and the community a smoother transition.
Joyce Brasington, Leonard’s current principal, is going to mentor her and guide her in the new position.
‘I am very thankful for that,? she said.
Zink will still lend a hand to the child care center but will be completely focused on Leonard.
‘I am fully committed and know how important it is to be there on a day-to-day basis,? she said.
Most of the staff at the Early Childcare Center has been there for 10 years and knows the program inside and out.
‘They have the knowledge and skills to carry on with me at Leonard and that will work out perfectly,? she said. ‘I am not worried about the childcare center.?
Zink will be available to them for questions as they present themselves and will keep in contact through email.
She will also assist them in taking care of the financial aspects and ordering items for the programs.
Zink received her master’s degree in Early Childhood from Eastern Michigan University. She has a teaching certificate for grades K-5 and for the secondary level.
She has been an administrator for 15 years and taught adults for five years through a United Way grant.
She developed training and a whole curriculum for a 33-week program hours of instruction for them to go after their child development degree.
‘It gave me a good experience to lead workshops and trainings,? she said.
She is continuing her education right now and focusing on leadership classes for her new role as principal.
Zink is a single mother and her daughter just graduated from Cleveland Institute of Art.
When two positions opened at Oxford Elementary School and Daniel Axford Elementary for principal, Superintendent Dr. William Skilling knew who he wanted in the roles and knew he would be filling the roles with employees already in Oxford schools.
‘We felt it would be a good building for Dianna,? said Skilling. ‘I would have been happy if she had gone to Daniel Axford, too. I had her in mind to become an elementary principal.?
Zink is excited about her new role and has already felt welcomed by the people she has met.
‘It is the warmest community and the group of people that I have already met with, (including) the teaching staff, are outstanding in the way they have received me and welcomed me with such warmth,? she said.
‘I am really excited for becoming a part of that team. They are just wonderful. It’s a very close knit group and for them to allow me to be part of their group, I am just really fortunate.?