By L. Parsons Connie Gover, a veteran educator and member of the Winslow community, has taken over as interim superintendent in the Winslow Unified School District following the sudden departure of Kathryn Zanin last month and is looking forward to ending the 2021 school year on a positive note, with as much normality as can be offered during this unprecedented pandemic. Both Gover and Winslow High School principal Sal Hernandez have expressed the desire to “make new memories” with the students this year. Last school year, students in the area moved to at home learning at the end of their spring break due to COVID-19. School did not resume again until August 2020. Therefore, all students missed out on end of the year activities. “This year,” said Gover, “has been different, for sure. But we are going to go ahead with our prom and graduation. Those things may look different, but we will go ahead with them and bring back some positivity.” The junior/senior prom at WHS will be held on Saturday, May 1, with the theme Greek Gardens. “We will be outside. This will help keep people as safe as possible. Of course, it is April in Winslow, so if the wind gets to be too bad, we do have the option to move inside. We really just want to give these kids some memories.” Graduation is also scheduled to move forward as planned. Graduates will receive four tickets apiece for the May 19 event. The traditional Because We Care party will follow the ceremony. The district will also be moving forward in the choosing of a permanent superintendent. Gover’s interim service will end on June 30. “There are already quite a few applications in for the position. It looks like we have a well-rounded group and I hope we make the right choice for our district. We need someone who has teachers, staff and students in mind when they make their decisions.” Gover’s hat is also in that ring, she said. “I thought long and hard about applying. In fact, it was pretty close to the deadline when I decided to go for it. I believe in being transparent, and making sure all the stakeholders have a voice.” Gover has been in the education field for over 35 years. She has master’s degrees in both Educational Leadership and School Counseling from Northern Arizona as well as a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in special education. She has been in the Winslow district since 1987. Before being tapped to fill the superintendent’s role, she was the special education director for WUSD. She has continued to do that job in addition to her duties as superintendent. “It has been a lot to take on, for sure, but there are a lot of great people in this district that have made it much easier. I honestly can’t remember a time when we had a more energetic, innovative leadership team here.” Gover is hopeful about the end of the year activities and moving forward for the next school year. “We are beyond the fear part of the pandemic, the unknowns are fewer and we are ready, as a district to revisit our protocols and have had time to understand what we need to do to keep everyone safe and healthy.” The deadline for applications for the superintendent’s job is closed and the district governing board will be reviewing the ones received in anticipation of making a hiring decision in June.
